305 rare turtles recovered at Dhaka airport; suspected smuggler arrested
Authorities have arrested a man at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka today (3 December) on suspicion of smuggling 305 rare turtles.
The arrestee was identified as Md Abul Kashem, 52, who arrived in Dhaka via a US-Bangla Airlines flight from China.
During a joint operation of the Wildlife Crime Control Unit (DCCU), Dhaka Customs House, and National Security Intelligence, Kashem was found attempting to smuggle 285 red-eared slider baby turtles and 20 American snapping turtles, weighing a total of 6 Kg, said Ashim Mallik, inspector of DCCU.
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"Following his arrest, Kashem admitted during interrogation that he had illegally brought the turtles into Bangladesh. Legal action has been initiated against him under Section 25-B (1)(b) of the Special Powers Act, 1974, and Section 34(b) of the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012," Ashim told The Business Standard.
"The confiscated turtles, which are rare species not native to Bangladesh, are currently under close observation by the Wildlife Crime Control Unit at the Forest Department office in Agargaon, Dhaka," he added.
