The Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday recovered 295 fresh water turtles being smuggled to make aphrodisiacs, officials said.

The recovery was done in a joint operation with the WCCB (Wildlife Crime Control Bureau) and the forest department in Banthara area in this district on Sunday. The STF also arrested a person who is allegedly the member of a gang involved in smuggling of protected animals.