Dhaka, Aug 7 (UNB) - Two alleged smugglers were arrested with a couple of luggage loaded with 108 tortoises at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (SIA) early Tuesday.

The arrested were identified as Shiekh Kibria, 35, an Indian national and his Bangladeshi accomplice Khairul Alam Bhuiyan, 40.

Minhajul Islam, ASP of Airport Armed Police Battalion (AAPBn) at Shahjalal Airport said being tipped off that the two smugglers Kibria and Khairul Alam arrived at the airport along with the tortoises to embark on Bangkok-bound Thai airways flight around 2:00 am.

Acting on the information, AAPBn raided the luggage booking counter of the airport and recovered 108 turtles searching the two big luggage and arrested the duo.

ASP Minhajul Islam further said one luggage contained 50 tortoises and the other 58.

During interrogation, they confessed to animal smuggling saying a woman, Afsana, handed over the tortoises to them for carrying the reptiles to Bangkok in return for a handsome amount of money, the AAPBn officer informed.

They also said a female scan machine operator of Shahjalal airport and Abdur Rashid, an employee of Custom office in the airport helped them carry the tortoises into the airport en route to the Thai capital, he added.

Te arrestees were handed over to the Airport police. A case was filed.