Chennai: 65 star tortoises, 4 gold Ganesha Idols seized at airport, one arrested
Chennai, Apr 7 (UNI) Customs Officials on Sunday seized 65 live star tortoises and four gold idols of Lord Ganesha with silver coating, in two separate incidents and arrested one person at the Anna International airport here.
Airport sources said based on specific information, customs officers intercepted a Bangkok-bound passenger Venkadesan (24) at the departure terminal after he had cleared immigration and was proceeding towards security hold area.
As his movement and behaviour appeared to be suspicious, officials questioned whether he was carrying any contraband/foreign currency or wildlife to which he made evasive replies.
His two checked-in luggages were recalled and on examination of them, officials found 65 live tortoises, which were concealed in two hotpot boxes in each of them.
To identify the species help of Forest Officers was sought and they certified them as star tortoises ‘Geochelone elegans’ species of Indian origin, covered under schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and under CITES convention.
The star tortoises were seized under Customs Act read with Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
The passenger was detained and handed over to the Tamilnadu Forest Department along with passenger for further action under the Wildlife Protection Act.
In another incident, based on specific information, officials intercepted one, Rajalingam Mahinthan (30), a French passport holder, who had arrived from Paris via Delhi by an Air India Flight, and seized four small Lord Ganesha idols from him.
The silver coated idols were seized and the gold assayer certified that the idols were made of 12 carat purity gold.
They totally weighed four kg and was valued at Rs 65 lakhs.
The idols were seized under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962.
During questioning, the passenger said he has been working as a floor supervisor in a fancy shop in Paris.
A friend of his in Paris had given him these idols to give to someone in Chennai for religious purposes and he was to hand it over to him outside airport.
He was taken outside the airport, but even after waiting for considerable time no one came to collect the idols from him.
The passenger was later arrested.
Further investigation is under progress.
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