Man caught trying to smuggle 22 star tortoises into S’pore

SINGAPORE — A man was caught at Woodlands Checkpoint on Thursday (June 23) trying to smuggle 22 live star tortoises into Singapore.

The tortoises were kept in a bag and placed among bags of groceries in a car boot, said the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority and the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) in a joint statement on Monday.

The tortoises were discovered after the Singapore-registered car, driven by a 49-year-old Singaporean man, was referred for further checks upon arrival at the Woodlands Checkpoint.

The man is now assisting the AVA with investigations. The tortoises are under the care of Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

Star tortoises are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Singapore is a signatory to the CITES convention.

Under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, the import and export/re-export of star tortoises requires CITES permits. Offenders can be fined up to S$50,000 per animal (up to a total of S$500,000), and/or face a jail term of up to two years.