In a crackdown, forest officials intercepted a vehicle on Friday carrying around 473 turtles in Odisha's Malkangiri district, close to Motu of Andhra Pradesh. The Forest Department has confirmed that the reptiles were being smuggled from Andhra to Malkangiri.

Allegedly, the turtles were brought for sale at elevated prices. The van driver and another individual managed to escape the scene, evading capture.

The turtles, which had been

Recently, there have been increased reports of turtle trafficking networks becoming more active in the region, raising concerns among local authorities. A racket is allegedly involved in the rampant smuggling activity. Each turtle is sold at nearly Rs 1,000.

No comments were received from local forest officials in this regard.

Earlier in another incident, forest officials in Malkangiri had seized more than 400 turtles following a raid in the dense Motu forest range. The reptiles were supposed to be smuggled elsewhere and were rescued while being transported on April 3.

According to sources, led by forest officer Rashmi Ranjan Swain, the operation was carried out after a tip-off was received regarding the wildlife trafficking activities in the area. The tortoises were being smuggled from the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh, through Chhattisgarh, and into the Malkangiri district.

Legal framework and enforcement

Odisha's forest department employs specialised teams and interagency coordination to combat wildlife crime. As per India's Wildlife Protection Act 1972, turtle trafficking carries up to 7 years imprisonment and Rs 25,000 fines. Recent amendments mandate stricter penalties for exotic species smuggling, as applied in March 2025's airport seizure case.

Major seizure in Chitrakonda

In September 2024, the Chitrakonda Forest Department intercepted a pickup truck smuggling 498 live turtles weighing over 1 ton through Malkangiri district. The reptiles were being transported from Andhra Pradesh's Narsingpatnam to Kalimela when authorities arrested two suspects - Prasanjit Gharmi and Sandeep Bepari - following a tip-off about the interstate smuggling operation.

Recent airport interception in Odisha

Bhubaneswar's Biju Patnaik International Airport witnessed a significant bust in March 2025 when customs officials apprehended a Tamil Nadu man smuggling 12 Fly River tortoises alongside exotic snakes and lizards. The exotic species, originating from Bangkok, were concealed in luggage en route to Chennai via Hong Kong.

packed into several large sacks in the vehicle, will be released into a nearby river, according to the Forest