230 turtles from India seized at Bangkok airport

Customs officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport here have seized 230 Hamilton turtles packed in four unattended suitcases that arrived on a flight from India, Bangkok Post reported Wednesday.

The baggage, which arrived on an IndiGo Airlines flight 6E077 from Kolkata, bore the names Hashamudd M., Dantsh Zafa, Shamsad S.K. and Wasi Akram, and was found in the arrival area of the airport, customs department deputy chief Paisal Cheunjit said.

The department estimated the value of the turtles at one million baht (or $30,800), although the price tag could be much more in the market, the official said, adding that the suspects probably left the luggage over fears they could be detected by authorities.

Hamilton turtles are under protection as an endangered species by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites).