17 crocodiles and 10 monitor lizards found in a person's suitcase at Sabiha Gökçen Airport
A strange incident occurred at Sabiha Gökçen Airport. A person arriving from Egypt attempted to smuggle 17 crocodiles and 10 monitor lizards into Turkey in a suitcase. The suitcase was searched, and the animals were seized.
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17 smuggled crocodiles and 10 monitor lizards were found in the suitcase of a person arriving from Egypt at Sabiha Gökçen Airport. The captured animals were seized.
A search was conducted on the suitcase of a suspect identified as F.H., who entered the country from Egypt at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport.
During the search, animals listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) were identified.
A total of 17 Nile crocodiles—12 alive and five dead—and 10 Nile monitor lizards—five alive and five dead—which were understood to be brought into the country to be taken to Hatay and lacked the necessary documentation, were seized.
According to the statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the smuggled crocodiles and monitor lizards were seized by the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks.