Kolkata: The Border Security Force (BSF) has foiled a cross-border wildlife smuggling attempt. BSF arrested a 36-year-old Bangladeshi national, Rafikul Sheikh, from the North 24 Parganas district , West Bengal. The personnel also rescued 296 Indian star tortoises which were being smuggled to Bangladesh.
The anti-smuggling operation was launched by the BSF troops after receiving an intelligence report about possible wildlife trafficking. Sheikh has illegally crossed from Bangladesh to India on December 6 under the direction of his Bangladeshi national associate Jakir Hussain. He then collected the tortoises from an Indian dealer and was en route to deliver them to Hussain.
The accused was handed over to the West Bengal Police, and the seized tortoises are being handed over to the forest office in Bangoan.
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