Some 1,500 live exotic turtles -- some restrained with duct-tape -- have been found inside an airline passenger's luggage, Philippines authorities said Monday, as they vowed a crackdown on the lucrative wildlife trade.
The turtles and tortoises were found at Manila airport on Sunday in the luggage of a Filipino passenger, hidden among clothes and shoes. Bureau of Customs/AFP/Handout
The Philippines is a major source and transit point of wildlife trafficking, according to a 2018 report by the US State Department. The person fled before authorities could confront him, customs officials said. “We saw the images from the x-ray ,” Manila airport customs chief Carmelita Talusan told AFP.“Our staff were taking care not to hurt them because duct tape was used to immobilise the turtles.”
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