Lucknow: The Special Task Force (STF) arrested a smuggler in the Hasanganj area, seizing 20 turtles, a scooter, and a mobile phone. The turtles recovered have been classified as both soft-shelled and hard-shelled species, which are commonly found in rivers like the Yamuna, Chambal, Ganga, Gomti, Ghaghra, and Gandak. A case has been registered against the accused under the Wildlife Protection Act at the Hasanganj police station.
DSP STF Avneeshwar Chandra Srivastava stated that the STF had received information about the smuggling of endangered turtle species. Smugglers often stay in contact with traders in West Bengal, who then send the turtles to countries like China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia via Bangladesh and Myanmar. Following this information, the STF began its investigation, which revealed that a large quantity of turtles was about to be smuggled with the help of local traffickers.
Acting on a tip-off, the STF, along with a team from the Forest Department, apprehended a young man on a scooter near the Zepto office in Nirala Nagar. The accused identified himself as Vishal Mishra, a resident of Kabariya Ka Purwa, Daliganj, Hasanganj. During questioning, the accused confessed that they get the turtles delivered via train parcels and then sell them at high prices outside of India.
