The Bureau of Customs (BOC) intercepts live endangered tortoises hidden in the luggage of a passenger arriving in Manila at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The BOC-NAIA says the passenger, who is reported to be Malaysian, arrived from Bangkok, Thailand and that the baggage was flagged for inspection during X-ray screening on June 12. After the luggage is subjected to physical examination, authorities find about 50 tortoises concealed inside the passenger’s belongings.
The BOC identifies the species as Radiated and Indian Star tortoises, both of which are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The reports describe the seized animals as endangered.
The sources present the interception as part of customs enforcement at NAIA, with the discovery driven by routine screening and subsequent inspection of flagged baggage. Authorities have not been reported, in the provided excerpts, to have released details on the passenger’s charges, the case filing, or further investigations beyond the seizure and species identification.
