Malkangiri, Sep 4: Forest department officials in Odisha's Malkangiri district rescued 500 live turtles that were being smuggled. The turtles were found in two pick-up vans in the Motu section of the Forest department, located in the Kalimela area along the Andhra-Odisha border.
Acting on a tip-off, Forest department officers intercepted the vans. The drivers initially claimed they were transporting fertilizer, but upon inspection, the officers discovered the turtles packed in containers inside the vehicles. The turtles were being smuggled from Andhra Pradesh to Odisha.
Four individuals have been arrested in connection with the smuggling operation, and the seized vehicles are currently held at the Forest department's MV 79 premises.
Further investigation in this regard is underway.
