Philippine police have seized 1,529 live turtles wrapped in duct tape inside suitcases abandoned at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
In a facebook post, the country's Bureau of Customs agency said the animals, which have a total worth of 4.5 million Philippine pesos (around AED 319,572), were smuggled onto a flight from Hong Kong.
Officials found the reptiles in four unclaimed pieces of luggage at the airport.
The Philippines has strict laws against illegal wildlife trafficking, with two-year jail term and a fine of 200,000 pesos handed to smugglers.
Strong quake hits Mexican coast near Guatemala, triggers tsunami threat
US completes 'major' wave of strikes on Iran, Gulf states under attack
Andy Burnham becomes UK Labour leader; next stop - prime minister
Kuwait says Iranian attack damages power generation, water desalination station
