Home / Environment / Authorities Intercept 900+ Turtles in Dhaka Airport Smuggling Bust
Authorities Intercept 900+ Turtles in Dhaka Airport Smuggling Bust
30 Oct
Summary
- Bangladeshi authorities seized 145 star tortoises and 780 Indian roofed turtles
- Smuggler attempted to flee when airport staff detected the turtles in his luggage
- Illegal wildlife trafficking poses major threat to biodiversity worldwide

On October 28, 2025, authorities at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, intercepted a large-scale wildlife smuggling attempt. The smuggler, identified as Mohammad Shaukat Ali Bhuiyan, was caught trying to transport 145 star tortoises and 780 Indian roofed turtles to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
When airport staff detected the presence of the turtles in Bhuiyan's luggage, he attempted to flee the scene. However, he was quickly apprehended, and various government agencies, including the Forest Department, Wildlife and Nature Conservation Department, and airport security, were called in to handle the situation.
The rescued turtles have since been placed under the custody of Bangladesh's Forest Department. Authorities have filed a case against Bhuiyan, and efforts are underway to arrest him for this serious offense.



