Sri Lanka, May 2 -- Three airline passengers have been apprehended at the arrival terminal of the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport for attempting to illegally bring over 3500 potentially invasive aquatic animals into Sri Lanka.

The arrests were made based on intelligence received by the Biodiversity, Cultural and National Heritage Protection Unit of the Sri Lanka Customs.

The individuals arrested are a woman involved in the ornamental fish business from Veyangoda, and two men. They had arrived at Katunayake Airport on SriLankan Airlines flight UL-403 from Bangkok, Thailand. The seized items within their luggage included Red-eared Slider turtles, Narrow-bridged Musk Turtles, Redtail Catfish, Alligator Gars, Pig-nosed Turtles...