A coach passenger was caught “red-footed” with around 600 baby tortoises stuffed into his suitcases.
Traffic cops stopped the intercity coach for inspection on Thursday (31 Jul) at around 2:30 p.m.
When they opened the luggage compartment, officers were stunned to find hundreds of red-footed tortoise hatchlings crammed inside the man’s bags.
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He had boarded the vehicle in Feira de Santana, and was planning to get off in Duque de Caxias — just before its final stop in Rio de Janeiro.
But he was busted at kilometre 73 of the BR-116 motorway, in Teresópolis, before he could reach his destination.
Questioned at the scene, the man claimed it was his first time smuggling animals and admitted he was expecting a cash payment, as reported by Need To Know.
However, police later discovered he’d already been arrested for the same crime back in 2015.
Tragically, some of the tortoise hatchlings died due to the appalling conditions in which they were transported.
In a statement, the Federal Highway Police said: “Each tortoise is worth around 700 BRL (£95) on the black market.”
The fate of the surviving reptiles has not been disclosed.
The case is now being handled by the Environmental Protection Police in Rio de Janeiro.
The red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius) is native to South America and typically grows to 30–40 cm (12–16 in) in length and weighs up to 10 kg (22 lb).
It lives in tropical forests and savannas and is frequently targeted by wildlife traffickers due to its bright colouring and calm nature.
