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Authorities find over 1,500 live turtles inside luggage in Philippines

In this March 3, 2019, handout photo provided by the Bureau of Customs Public Information Office, duct taped turtles are presented to reporters in Manila, Philippines. Philippine authorities said ...
In this March 3, 2019, handout photo provided by the Bureau of Customs Public Information Office, duct taped turtles are presented to reporters in Manila, Philippines. Philippine authorities said that they found more than 1,500 live exotic turtles stuffed inside luggage at Manila's airport. (Bureau of Customs via AP)
In this March 3, 2019, handout photo provided by the Bureau of Customs Public Information Office, turtles are piled inside a box as they are presented to reporters in Manila, Philippines. Philippi ...
In this March 3, 2019, handout photo provided by the Bureau of Customs Public Information Office, turtles are piled inside a box as they are presented to reporters in Manila, Philippines. Philippine authorities said that they found more than 1,500 live exotic turtles stuffed inside luggage at Manila's airport. (Bureau of Customs via AP)
In this March 3, 2019, handout photo provided by the Bureau of Customs Public Information Office, duct taped turtles can be seen inside luggage as they are presented to reporters in Manila, Philip ...
In this March 3, 2019, handout photo provided by the Bureau of Customs Public Information Office, duct taped turtles can be seen inside luggage as they are presented to reporters in Manila, Philippines. Philippine authorities said that they found more than 1,500 live exotic turtles stuffed inside luggage at Manila's airport. (Bureau of Customs via AP)
In this March 3, 2019, handout photo provided by the Bureau of Customs Public Information Office, duct-taped turtles are mixed inside luggage as they are presented to reporters in Manila, Philippi ...
In this March 3, 2019, handout photo provided by the Bureau of Customs Public Information Office, duct-taped turtles are mixed inside luggage as they are presented to reporters in Manila, Philippines. Philippine authorities said that they found more than 1,500 live exotic turtles stuffed inside luggage at Manila's airport. (Bureau of Customs via AP)
In this March 3, 2019, handout photo provided by the Bureau of Customs Public Information Office, duct-taped turtles are piled inside a box in Manila, Philippines. Philippine authorities said that ...
In this March 3, 2019, handout photo provided by the Bureau of Customs Public Information Office, duct-taped turtles are piled inside a box in Manila, Philippines. Philippine authorities said that they found more than 1,500 live exotic turtles stuffed inside luggage at Manila's airport. (Bureau of Customs via AP)
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The Associated Press
March 5, 2019 - 9:59 am
 

MANILA, Philippines —

Philippine authorities said Monday that they found more than 1,500 live turtles stuffed inside luggage at Manila’s airport.

The various types of turtles were found 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, Customs officials said in a statement.

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

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 to the DENR a total of 560 wildlife and endangered species, including 250 geckos and 254 corals smuggled through air parcels, baggage and shipments, according to the statement.

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