On 15 September 2003 at about 0710 hours, an Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer stopped an Indian national for a routine check on his hand luggage at the baggage examination area at Changi Airport, Arrival Terminal 2. The Indian man who had arrived from Chennai, India bolted and made a dash for the exit. Our ICA officers caught up with him and had escorted him to the office for a thorough check on his luggage. During the check, 499 live star tortoises were found in the luggage.

2 Preliminary investigation revealed that the man was handed the consignment at Chennai Airport and promised SGD100 for bringing in the tortoises. The illegally smuggled tortoises were handed over to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) for investigation. The 28 year-old male Indian will be charged for the illegal import of endangered star tortoises under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act. The tortoises, valued between $25,000 and $30,000 will be under the care of the Singapore Zoological Gardens.

3 The tortoises require CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Wild Fauna and Flora) permit for import under the Endangered Species (Import & Export) Act. Offenders in violation of this Act can be fined up to $5,000 ($10,000 for repeat offences) and/or face a jail term of up to one year.

4 Stepped-up security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints will continue to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. ICA would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods illegally into Singapore.

END OF NEWS RELEASE

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
15 Sep 2003