Kochi, Tuesday, July 12, 2011: Customs officials at the Nedumbassery International Airport seized more than 6000 star turtles from the baggage of a Singapore-bound passenger on Tuesday.

Abdul Rahim Naina Muhammad was arrested in connection with this. More details are awaited. The man was intercepted by customs intelligence personnel when he was trying to leave the airport through the green channel, Deputy Commissioner (Customs) C Madhavan said.

Airport sources said the turtles, worth around Rs 2.40 lakh, would be re-exported to Singapore since Kochi International Airport is not a designated airport to import such live items.