The Pakistani man who was trying to smuggle them into the country has been arrested

Nov 9, 2013 22:01 GMT  ·  By
Authorities in Thailand question Pakistani man after discovering 470 rare turtles in his suitcases
   Authorities in Thailand question Pakistani man after discovering 470 rare turtles in his suitcases

Authorities at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport have arrested a Pakistani man after discovering a total of 470 black pond turtles worth about $111,000 (€82,855) in his suitcases.

Information shared with the public says that the man, named Mustafa Ali, had been paid to smuggle the reptiles into the country.

The person to whom he was delivering them was planning to sell them for about $800 (nearly €600) each, depending on their size, Free District reports.

Black pond turtles are native to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Nepal. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature considers them to be a vulnerable species, and the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 1992 grants them legal protection.

Earlier this week, 423 radiata turtles and 52 Hamilton turtles were also discovered in unclaimed suitcases at the Suvarnabhumi airport.

Police officers are presently trying to determine whether or not these incidents are related.