Malkangiri: In a major crackdown on wildlife smuggling, Forest Department officials seized altogether 1,078 turtles in Motu area of Odisha’s Malkangiri district and arrested three persons.
Sources said the seizure was made while the turtles were being smuggled into Odisha from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. The seizure took place near the inter-state border late on Tuesday.
Acting on a tip-off, Forest officials intercepted a vehicle and conducted a thorough check. The turtles were found concealed inside 25 poly bags in the SUV. There is high demand for turtle meat in Malkangiri district.
The team arrested three individuals, including the prime accused, identified as Sukumar Tarafdar.
The market value of the seized turtles is estimated to be around Rs 4 lakh, officials said.
Forest department officials said the rescued turtles will be safely released into a suitable water body. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of illegal wildlife trade in the region, particularly driven by the growing black market for turtle meat.
Further investigation is in progress to ascertain the wider network behind the smuggling operation.
