Astonished cops were shocked when they checked passengers on a bus and found hundreds of tortoises hidden in a passenger's luggage.

The incident occurred on BR-116 in Teresopolis, in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, on July 31.

Federal Highway Police officers stopped a bus travelling from Natal to Rio de Janeiro at around 2:30 pm for a routine inspection.

During the search of the luggage compartment, they discovered approximately 600 red-footed baby turtles concealed inside suitcases belonging to a commuter.

The traveller, who had boarded the bus in Feira de Santana, admitted he was planning to sell the animals in Baixada Fluminense.

He claimed it was his first time transporting wildlife this way, but officers found he had been previously arrested for the same offence in 2015.

He also confessed he would receive payment for the transport, though the amount was not disclosed.

Some of the creatures had died due to the poor conditions inside the suitcases. Authorities said each baby turtle could be sold on the illegal market for around BRL 700 (GBP 96).

The case was handed over to the Environmental Protection Department.

(1 BRL = 0.14 GBP)