Sri Lanka has recently emerged as both a source and transit hub in the illegal wildlife trade network, particularly for Indian star tortoises. This shift became evident in June 2017 when the Sri Lankan Navy intercepted a dinghy from India carrying 2,098 live star tortoises, followed by another seizure of 1,200 tortoises in Kalpitiya in December of the same year. The island nation's significance in the smuggling network was further confirmed when authorities seized 223 star tortoises near Colombo's international airport in October 2021, arresting two Indians and one Sri Lankan. Wildlife experts note that the Sri Lankan variety of star tortoise is particularly valued by collectors for its sharper shell design, commanding premium prices in the black market. Despite the elevation of star tortoises to CITES Appendix I in 2019, enforcement remains challenging, with most arrested smugglers simply paying fines without deeper investigation into trafficking networks.