Over 1 500 turtles found inside luggage in Philippines

Philippine authorities have found more than 1 500 live exotic turtles stuffed inside luggage at Manila's airport.

Customs officials said in a statement Monday that the various types of turtles were found on Sunday inside four pieces of left-behind luggage of a Filipino passenger arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on a Philippine Airlines flight from Hong Kong,.

The 1 529 turtles were turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Unit.

Convictions for the illegal trading of wildlife are punishable by a prison sentence of up to two years and a fine of up to 200 000 pesos ($3 861).

In 2018, Philippine authorities turned over 560 wildlife and endangered species, including 250 geckos and 254 corals smuggled through air parcels, baggage and shipments, according to the statement.

KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE newsletter.

- FOLLOW News24 on Twitter