AKIPRESS.COM - Police in the Philippines have seized more than 1,500 live turtles found wrapped in duct tape at Manila airport, BBC reports.

The turtles, found in four unclaimed pieces of luggage, and could have sold for more than 4.5 million pesos (£60,000; $86,631).

Police believe the bags were abandoned after the carrier found out about the harsh penalties for illegal wildlife trafficking.

If caught, they could face two years in jail and a fine of up to 200,000 pesos.

A total of 1,529 turtles of different species, including Sulcata Tortoises - which are recognised as vulnerable on the IUCN's Red list of Threatened species - were found in four pieces of unclaimed luggage in the arrival area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday.