According to a statement from the Finance Ministry on Sunday, investigators from India's top anti-smuggling agency, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), have successfully rescued approximately 955 rare Ganges Turtles from a widespread operation.
Six people allegedly behind the smuggling operation were also detained, the official statement added.
The statement elaborates that the “concerted” anti-smuggling operation by the DRI was carried out in three Indian cities—Bhopal, Chennai and Nagpur.
The suspected smugglers were handed over to the relevant forest departments for further questioning.
Endangered Turtle Species Rescued
The statement from the finance ministry emphasized that several turtles that were saved are labeled as "vulnerable" or "near threatened" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) 'Red List', which serves as a worldwide database of extinct and endangered species.
The statement also noted that some of the rescued turtle species are listed as endangered under India's national law, the Wildlife Protection Act.
“The species of Gangetic turtles rescued are Indian Tent Turtle, Indian Flap-shell Turtle, Crown River Turtle, Black spotted/Pond Turtle and Brown Roofed Turtle,” the statement listed.
According to the ministry, the DRI has intensified its efforts in the past few months to bring wildlife smugglers to justice and has successfully executed numerous operations to tackle the issue of "illegal wildlife trafficking."