Bhubaneswar: The Forest Department on Monday busted an inter-state smuggling racket and seized around one tonne of endangered turtles at Rajulkonda along Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border.
Two persons have also been arrested in connection with the racket.
According to sources, a team led by Chitrakonda ranger Banamali Nayak intercepted a vehicle as it entered Odisha at Rajulkonda following a tip-off about large number of turtles being smuggled from Narasinghapatna in Andhra Pradesh to Kalimela MV79 in Malkangiri.
After a thorough check of the vehicle, turtles, weighing around one tonne, packed in 35 sacks were seized. Further investigation is underway.
All sea turtles found on the Indian coast are included in the list of protected species in Schedule I of Wild Life Protection Act (WLPA).