Kolkata Airport Seizure: 707 Exotic Turtles Recovered from Passenger Arriving from Bangkok

Customs officials at Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport have foiled a major wildlife trafficking attempt, seizing 707 live red-eared slider turtles from a passenger who arrived from Bangkok. The passenger, a Chennai resident, was intercepted after crossing the Green Channel, and a detailed examination of his checked-in baggage revealed the concealed turtles, an invasive exotic species. No valid licence or permit was produced.

The Air Intelligence Unit officer stated that the passenger had arrived by an IndiGo flight. Vinayak Azaad, Principal Commissioner of Customs (Airport & ACC), Kolkata, affirmed the department's commitment to a zero-tolerance approach towards wildlife trafficking. A detailed investigation is currently underway to identify the network behind the illegal shipment.

Red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) are native to the southern United States and northern Mexico but are considered invasive in many parts of the world, including India, where they threaten local biodiversity. Their trade is regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and their import requires proper permits.

This seizure highlights the ongoing challenge of wildlife trafficking through major airports. Customs and wildlife authorities have stepped up surveillance to curb such illegal activities, which often involve exotic pets and species used in traditional medicine.