KARACHI:
Considered the biggest consignment in the history of Pakistan, custom officials seized over 4000 freshwater turtles’ meat on Thursday being smuggled outside Pakistan.
“I am sure it is the world’s biggest transportation of turtle meat and unfortunately this has happened in our country,” an official said.
Officials believe that influential persons are involved in the smuggling and have assured that culprits will face strict punishment.
Freshwater turtle smuggling is uncommon, however, recent imposition of a fine of Rs.50,000 by the Sindh wildlife department makes it difficult for traffickers now.
“They (smugglers) are polluting our water and destroying nature,” an official said.
The turtles are called scavengers of water and their presence ensures purity of potable water.
Last year, over 200 turtles smuggled into China finally found their way back home to Pakistan, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Chinese authorities as well as the Gilgit-Baltistan and Sindh wildlife departments.
The consignment was seized in the neighbouring country during the last week of June 2014 after authorities received information on “unusual luggage” coming from Pakistan. When intercepted, experts determined the consignment contained 220 hard-shell turtles.
