Man tries to smuggle tortoises disguised as cakes into Berlin
The shells could clearly be seen through the plastic packaging
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
An attempt to smuggle three live tortoises in a pastry box into Berlin was thwarted by airport staff.
A passenger who’d flown into Schönefeld airport from Cairo tried to sneak through the “nothing to declare” section, but was stopped by security staff.
The tortoises were stowed inside a pastry box, with the shells clearly visible through the plastic packaging.
The man tried to pass off the animals as “edible”, saying they were chocolate tortoises designed to look realistic.
However, it quickly transpired these were in fact live Moroccan tortoises, officially an endangered species.
The amphibians were confiscated and are being looked after by the airport vet.
If found guilty of animal trafficking, the man in question faces a fine of up to €50,000 (£43,000) or a five-year prison sentence.
It comes after The Independent reported that 1,529 exotic live turtles valued at more than £65,750 were found smuggled into the Philippines in a passenger’s luggage.
The reptiles were discovered by customs officials at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.
They had been packed in four suitcases and travelled the two-hour journey from Hong Kong on Philippine Airlines flight PR311.
The bags were abandoned at the airport and, when opened, contained a 1,500-strong collection of exotic and rare turtles.
The airport's customs team uploaded pictures of the turtles on Facebook, some which showed the animals bound with duct tape.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments