Perhilitan rescues hundreds of tortoises from 'Ninja Turtle Gang'

A file picture of Indian star tortoises with their distinctive shell markings. – AZLINA BT ABDULLAH/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian authorities have rescued hundreds of smuggled tortoises meant for sale in Southeast Asia, disrupting an international crime ring called the "Ninja Turtle Gang", a wildlife official.

Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director-general Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, said 400 tortoises worth RM3.8mil (US$805,084) bound for the lucrative exotic pet trade were seized during an operation by the police and department officials on Saturday (June 29).