IranPress/Asia: The Philippines is a major source and transit point of wildlife trafficking from Asia to around the globe.
Philippines authorities vowed crackdown on the lucrative wildlife trafficking after discovering turtles in 4 passenger suitcase, AFP reported.
The turtles and tortoises were found at Manila airport on Sunday in the luggage of a Filipino passenger, who had arrived from Hong Kong, hidden among clothes and shoes.
Philippines seizes 1,500 rare turtles in luggage
The turtles seized were estimated to be worth 4.5 million pesos ($87,000), the customs bureau said.
Among the animals found were the Indian Star Tortoise, classified as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Sunday's haul was the latest in a series of seizures of smuggled wildlife at the capital's airport.
More than 50 iguanas were discovered in the luggage of a passenger from Bangkok last month, with some of the animals hidden in water bottles and sock.105/205
