Chennai a Hub of Illegal Animal Trade
City airport has reported the seizure of shark fins, turtles and star tortoises in recent years.
Dec 2017, two persons bound for Bangkok were detained for hiding 210 Indian star tortoises. Oct 2018, A passenger from Bangkok was detained for concealing 2,300 red eared sliders. Nov 2018, 490 Indian star tortoises to be smuggled to Kuala Lumpur were found in two boxes in the Kasimedu fishing area. Dec 2018, two passengers who arrived from Bangkok were detained for carrying 4,800 red-eared sliders, a semi-aquatic turtle, worth ₹ 9.6 Lakh. Jan 2019, A passenger bound for Singapore was detained for attempting to smuggle 14 kg of shark fins worth ₹ 8 Lakh. 2 Feb 2019, a passenger from Bangkok was detained for hiding a leopard cub in his baggage.
