The Sindh Wildlife Department had declared turtles protected animals and included them in the protected list on Friday, informing all officials to keep an eye out for the illegal movement of turtles.
“It is a big achievement as immediately after we declared them protected, we stopped the trafficking of over 200 members of the endangered species,” the provincial conservator of the wildlife department, Javed Ahmed Mahar, said.
The smuggling of turtles from Pakistan to other countries, especially to the South East Asian states and China, has become common practice over the last few years. In the latest incident, Sajid Cheema, who hails from Lahore and currently resides in Bangkok, was en route from Lahore to Bangkok via Karachi when the customs officials stopped him at the Jinnah International Airport. The officials said that Cheema was carrying the live turtles in briefcases.
The passenger is in the custody of the Custom officials, while the turtles will be handed over to the wildlife Department. The smuggling of turtles is against the trade control act and Sindh and Punjab Wildlife Protect Laws. According to the officials, Cheema may be sentenced to imprisonment for up to six years.
Out of 230, eight turtles are said to be of the fresh water variety. Officials will now have to investigate from where the accused managed to get his hands on such a large quantity of turtles.
Earlier, around 200 black pond turtles, seized by Chinese authorities, were handed over to the Sindh Wildlife department in a ceremony at the Pak-China border last month.
Officials have been on high alert since then due to the pressure from different national and international NGOs against the smuggling of endangered species.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2014.
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