BENGALURU: A green trolley bag being carried through the busy streets of Gandhi Nagar concealed a shocking wildlife haul — 180 live Indian star tortoises, a protected species being moved as part of an illegal trafficking network that was busted by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officers.Acting on specific intelligence, the DRI intercepted the carrier on Monday.According to officials, the action was carried out under ‘Operation Kurma’ and led to the recovery of the tortoises, identified as Geochelone elegans, from the trolley bag. DRI officers had mounted surveillance following information about the movement of protected wildlife.The bag contained six cloth covers holding 180 tortoises. The species enjoys the highest level of protection under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.During questioning, the accused told officials that he had received the trolley bag from another person at Kalasipalya and was instructed to deliver it to another person in Majestic. He had been promised Rs 10,000 for completing the delivery.The tortoises were seized and the accused was arrested. The DRI said it is continuing its investigation to crack the larger network, including those who handed over the tortoises to the arrested carrier and the person to whom he was supposed to deliver them.
