Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) seized 150 tortoises of a rare species from Mandartala area in Sadar upazila of Jessore early today.

Rab-6 sources said being tipped off that some rare tortoises were being smuggled into the country from India, a team of the elite force conducted a drive in the area and intercepted a truck around 12:30am.

Sensing the presence of the Rab members, the smugglers managed to flee from the scene.

Later, they recovered 150 tortoises of a rare species, stuffed in eight sacks, after searching the vehicle.

The seized tortoises were handed over to the forest department.

A case was filed in this connection.