The Railway Police at Patna Junction successfully foiled a major wildlife smuggling attempt on March 20, 2026. During a targeted search of the Farakka Express, officials recovered a large number of live turtles being transported illegally. This action resulted in the arrest of four smugglers who were part of an organized network dealing in protected species.
Major details of the seizure and arrests
- The GRP Patna team recovered between 88 and 100 live turtles during the operation.
- The turtles were packed in hand luggage and weighed between 10 to 15 kilograms each.
- Among the four arrested individuals, one is a woman, and all are residents of Varanasi.
- The estimated value of the recovered turtles in the international black market is reported to be in crores.
Smuggling route and official statement
According to Rail DSP Bhaskar Ranjan, the police acted on a secret tip-off regarding the transport of wildlife. The preliminary investigation shows that the turtles were brought from Varanasi and were being taken to Bengal for sale. The police are currently looking for other members of the gang to uncover the entire supply chain. Such smuggling activities are strictly prohibited under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, and railway security has been tightened to prevent further incidents.