171 protected Indian Roofed Turtles seized in Kanpur; UP STF arrests smuggler
Synopsis
UP's Special Task Force cracked open an international turtle smuggling pipeline on 18 July, seizing 171 live Indian Roofed Turtles in Kanpur and arresting Zahid Ali — a link in a chain that reportedly runs from UP's rivers all the way to China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia via Bangladesh and Myanmar. With 11 of UP's 15 native turtle species under active illegal trade, this is far from an isolated bust.
Key Takeaways
Zahid Ali , a resident of Village Bhatpura, Fatehgarh , was arrested by the UP STF in Kanpur on 18 July 2025 .
171 live Indian Roofed Turtles were recovered from his possession during the joint STF-Forest Department operation.
The smuggling route reportedly runs from UP rivers to West Bengal , then through Bangladesh and Myanmar to China , Hong Kong , and Malaysia .
Of 29 turtle species in India, 15 are found in UP; 11 of these are subject to illegal trade.
A case has been filed under Sections 9, 39, 40, 48A, 51, and 57 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 at Kanpur Forest Range.
The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh arrested an alleged member of an international turtle smuggling network in Kanpur on 18 July 2025 and recovered 171 live Indian Roofed Turtles from his possession, officials said on Sunday. The accused, identified as Zahid Ali, a resident of Village Bhatpura under Police Station Kamalganj in Fatehgarh, was apprehended near the railway crossing within the jurisdiction of Police Station Harbansh Mohal, Kanpur.
How the Arrest Unfolded
An STF team led by Sub-Inspector Faizuddin Siddiqui was conducting patrol operations in Kanpur when actionable intelligence was received that smugglers were transporting a large consignment of turtles into the district. Acting swiftly, a joint team comprising the STF and the Forest Department (Kanpur Range) intercepted Ali at the Harbansh Mohal railway crossing. Recovered from him were 171 Indian Roofed Turtles, one mobile phone, and an Aadhaar Card.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Avnishwar Chandra Srivastava, Additional Superintendent of Police, STF UP, Lucknow, following a sustained intelligence-gathering drive across multiple STF units and teams.
The Smuggling Network and Its Routes
During interrogation, Ali reportedly disclosed that he sourced turtles from ponds and rivers in districts near Fatehgarh through local intermediaries, then collaborated with Kanpur-based smugglers to supply consignments to Bihar and West Bengal. According to officials, traders in West Bengal then route the contraband through Bangladesh and Myanmar to end markets in China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
This cross-border pipeline is a well-documented pattern in South Asian wildlife trafficking. Turtles are trafficked both as live animals — for meat or the exotic pet trade — and for their dried calipee (membranes), which are used in potency-enhancing medicines in certain Asian markets.
Why Indian Turtles Are a Target
Of the 29 turtle species found across India, 15 are native to Uttar Pradesh. Officials noted that 11 of these 15 species are actively subject to illegal trade. The Indian Roofed Turtle is a Schedule IV species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, making its capture, possession, and trade a criminal offence. These turtles are found in abundance in major river systems including the Yamuna, Chambal, Ganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, and Gandak, as well as their tributaries and in ponds.
STF's Sustained Crackdown on Turtle Trafficking
'At the initiative of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (Government of India), the STF has been taking effective action against turtle smuggling in Uttar Pradesh for several years,' officials stated. This arrest is part of a broader, ongoing enforcement effort that has been intensifying across the state as intelligence on smuggling networks has grown more specific.
A case has been registered against Ali at the Kanpur Forest Range under Sections 9, 39, 40, 48A, 51, and 57 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Further legal proceedings will be carried out by the Kanpur Forest Range. Investigators said additional details are awaited as the probe expands.
Point of View
But the real nodes — the West Bengal dealers, the Bangladesh transit operators, the Chinese buyers — remain largely untouched. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau's coordination with the UP STF is a step forward, yet the repeat scale of these seizures (171 turtles in a single haul) suggests that interdiction is still catching the bottom of the chain. Until the financial and logistical networks above Ali are prosecuted, the pipeline will simply find another collector in another district.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Kanpur turtle smuggling case?
Zahid Ali , a resident of Village Bhatpura under Police Station Kamalganj in Fatehgarh, was arrested by the UP Special Task Force near the Harbansh Mohal railway crossing in Kanpur on 18 July 2025. He is alleged to be a member of an international turtle smuggling network.
How many turtles were seized and what species were they?
171 live Indian Roofed Turtles were recovered from the accused. The Indian Roofed Turtle is a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and is found in major river systems across Uttar Pradesh.
What is the international smuggling route for turtles from UP?
According to officials, turtles collected from rivers and ponds in UP are supplied to Bihar and West Bengal, from where dealers route the contraband through Bangladesh and Myanmar to end markets in China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
A case has been registered at the Kanpur Forest Range under Sections 9, 39, 40, 48A, 51, and 57 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Legal proceedings are being carried out by the Kanpur Forest Range.
How widespread is turtle trafficking in Uttar Pradesh?
Of the 29 turtle species found in India, 15 are native to Uttar Pradesh, and 11 of those 15 are actively subject to illegal trade. The UP STF, working at the initiative of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, has been conducting sustained anti-trafficking operations in the state for several years.
