Wildlife smuggler held, black spotted turtles seized

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested an international wildlife smuggler from Unnao district and recovered 290 black spotted turtles from his possession.

Mohd Mukeem alias Munna was arrested on at tip off from Gangaghat, Shuklaganj in Unnao district Thursday when he was going to take consignment of turtles, an STF release issued here stated.

During interrogation, Munna told police that he used to visit Unnao to take consignment of turtles for Patna and Kolkata from where sent it to foreign countries.

He said that in east-Asia there was a huge demand of these turtles as they were used in Feng Shui.

The STF is probing the matter further and trying to workout on links provided by the accused.