Four rare miniature tortoises worth up to R1O 000 each and a family of wriggling geckoes - stuffed inside a shampoo bottle - were rescued from suspected exotic animal smugglers at Cape Town International Airport yesterday.

The rescue formed part of Operation Cobra, a year-long police undercover investigation aimed at cracking a multi-million rand international exotic animal syndicate believed to have been operating in southern Africa for about 10 years.

The animals were found inside the baggage of three German suspects - two men and a woman - who had flown in from an animal "shopping expedition" near Lam- bert's Bay. They were promptly arrested by a team of police "pet detectives" and will appear in the Bellville Magistrate's Court tomorrow, charged with dealing in endangered species.

The tortoises, speckled Namaqualand 'padlopers' - small enough to fit into an outstretched hand - are listed as a highly endangered species.

"They're one of the smallest tortoise species in the world," said Cape Nature Conservation law enforcer Paul Gildenhys. "The only time I've ever seen them before was five years ago when we confiscated 18 in Durban harbour," he added.

One of the three suspects is alleged to be one of the biggest illegal dealers worldwide. "I met him at his house in Germany in May when I went over there undercover. He's got by far the biggest collection of spiders and reptiles I've ever seen - all in top condition," said endangered species unit chief Superintendent Pierre Erasmus.

- Bobby Jordan