Malkangiri (Odisha), March 11 The Odisha forest department seized 631 Indian flap shell turtles near the state's border with Andhra Pradesh during a special operation in Malkangiri district, an official said.
Acting on a tip-off, personnel from the Motu range under the Malkangiri forest division conducted a raid and seized the turtles, which were stored in 38 plastic trays, said Malkangiri DFO Sai Kiran.
Two individuals from the Korkulla village in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh had illegally transported the turtles in a van to the Odisha border for trading and selling them to five individuals from the state, Kiran said.
All seven people involved in the illegal wildlife trade were arrested, and the van, six mobile phones, and two motorcycles were seized from their possession.
A wildlife offence case has been registered, and further investigation is in progress, said the DFO.
Earlier, on March 2, forest officials had seized 210 live Indian flap shell turtles allegedly smuggled in a vehicle from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh to Malkangiri district.