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Luxury Trains Used to Smuggle Endangered Turtles
14 Feb
Summary
- 311 rare turtles seized from an AC First-Class train coach.
- A smuggling ring used Indian Railways to transport turtles from UP to MP.
- Endangered species like Crowned River Turtles were part of the illicit trade.
A sophisticated wildlife smuggling ring has been dismantled after authorities discovered its use of luxury AC First-Class train compartments to traffic endangered turtles. The Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force, in collaboration with railway and forest officials, intercepted 311 rare turtles at Bhopal's Sant Hirdaram railway station. These protected species, including Crowned River Turtles and Indian Tent Turtles, were being transported from rivers in Uttar Pradesh to Madhya Pradesh.
The operation revealed a disturbing method of smuggling, with turtles packed in suffocating conditions within train coaches. A coach attendant was apprehended as a courier, leading investigators to a teenager involved in a wider poaching network in Uttar Pradesh. The syndicate's alleged kingpin, Asif Khan, was later arrested in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh.
This discovery confirms suspicions of a large interstate network, previously hinted at by other railway-related turtle seizures. Investigations suggest the racket has been active for years, exploiting insider access. This case highlights the ongoing challenge of wildlife trafficking, with international demand for turtles for pets, meat, and traditional medicine fueling such criminal enterprises. Severe penalties exist under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for such offenses.
