The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Customs Department arrested a man from Chennai on Wednesday after at least 707 red-eared turtles were seized from him at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata, officials said.
Native to the central and southeastern United States and northern Mexico, red-eared slider turtles are often traded as pets. They are considered among the world’s worst invasive species and can disturb local biodiversity.
“A passenger was detained with 707 red-eared slider turtles at NSCBI airport in Kolkata after landing a flight from Bangkok. He was arrested under the Customs Act, Wildlife Protection Act and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The investigation is ongoing,” a senior customs official said.
The passenger, a resident of Chennai, was intercepted after crossing the green channel at the airport, officials said. He was taken into custody after spot profiling.
“He was intercepted on the basis of spot profiling, which is done with the help of data analytics. He was carrying oversized baggage. After he was intercepted on his arrival at NSCBI, the check-in baggage was passed through an X-ray machine, which revealed the presence of live turtles,” the official said.
Invasive alien species (IAS) are animals and plants that are introduced to places outside their natural range, negatively impacting local biodiversity, ecosystem services, or human well-being. They are among the biggest threats to biodiversity and also pose a global threat to food security.
