Man's second bid to smuggle tortoises foiled

Weeks after his failed bid to smuggle green tortoises, a man today made a second attempt to bring those from Malaysia but customs officials at the airport here foiled his attempt and sent back the live cargo.

Abdul Nissar of Ramanathapuram, who arrived here last night by a Malaysian Airlines flight, was found carrying around 4,000 'vasthu' tortoises, which are tiny, airport officials said.

Since import of tortoises is banned, immigration officials sent back the tortoises by a flight this morning, they said.

On August 2, Nissar had been detained and released after he landed here from Malaysia with 3,000 live tortoises.