Malaysian authorities have successfully intercepted a smuggling operation targeting hundreds of tortoises destined for sale across Southeast Asia, disrupting an international criminal network dubbed the “Ninja Turtle Gang,” according to Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, the director-general of Malaysia’s wildlife and national parks department.
The operation, conducted jointly by police and wildlife officials, resulted in the seizure of 400 tortoises valued at 3.8 million ringgit ($805,084).
In many parts of Asia, tortoises are believed to bring good luck and prosperity, driving demand in the lucrative exotic pet trade.
“This is the biggest ever seizure in the past 10 years,” Abdul Kadir told AFP, adding that the reptiles were to be sold on to Thailand and Indonesia after local demand was met.
He said the tortoises were believed to have been smuggled from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.
The joint operation, codenamed “United National Resource”, crippled the tortoise smuggling ring known as the “Ninja Turtle Gang”, he said.
The operation involved a car chase in which the driver of a vehicle thought to be used in the smuggling was arrested.
The driver subsequently led the enforcement officers to a location where rare three-keeled land turtles and Indian star tortoises were being kept.
Commercial trade in the Indian star tortoise was banned in 2019.
“The strategic location of Malaysia in Southeast Asia makes the country a hub for the smuggling of these exotic species,” Abdul Kadir said.
The tortoises are illegally brought into Malaysia by road or in suitcases by smugglers aboard commercial flights, he said.
Traffic, a wildlife NGO, has previously said that Southeast Asian countries “function as source, consumer and as entrepots for wildlife originating from within the region as well as the rest of the world”.
