Lucknow: The STF team, assisted by Lucknow forest unit officials, arrested three people to smuggle turtles on Sunday.
The people arrested were identified as Ravindra Kumar Kashyap from Malihabad, Saurabh Kashyap from Kakori and Arman Ahmad from Sultanpur.
Lucknow District Forest Officer Ravi Kumar said at least 175 Indian roof turtles, 60 Indian tendaries, 19 river turtles crowned and four Indian-eyed turtles were found from ownership of criminals.
Motorbikes, Rs 2,460 Cash, three cellphones and other documents are recovered from them.
The defendant was arrested near the Indiranagar Metro Station.
A team led by DYSP, STF, Deepak Kumar Singh worked in the case following a tip-off and arrested the defendant when they would surrender consigning someone.
The main accusation, Raman, told the police that he was smuggling for years and had a network in Barabanki, Sultanpur, Rae Bareli, Unnao and Bahraich.
Raman said he had turtles from fishermen he used to pay a little.