Snakes on a plane bound for India found and seized, again
Wildlife conservationists have warned of a 'very troubling' trend in trafficking driven by the exotic pet trade. PHOTO: AFP
Snakes on a plane bound for India found and seized, again
NEW DELHI – Indian customs officers in Mumbai said they have stopped a plane passenger arriving from Thailand with a wriggling cargo of live snakes, the third such seizure in June.
'Customs officers… foiled yet another wildlife smuggling attempt, 16 live snakes… seized from a passenger returning from Thailand,' said a customs officer at Mumbai's airport
The passenger, who arrived on June 29, has been arrested, the customs agency said in a statement, with 'further investigation underway'.
The live snakes included reptiles often sold in the pet trade, and were largely non-venomous, or with venom too weak to affect people.
They included garter snakes, a rhino rat snake and a Kenyan sand boa, among others.
In early June, customs officers stopped a passenger smuggling dozens of venomous vipers, also arriving from Thailand.
Days later, officers stopped another traveller carrying 100 creatures, including lizards, sunbirds and tree-climbing possums.
Wildlife trade monitor Traffic, which battles the smuggling of wild animals and plants, has warned of a 'very troubling' trend in trafficking driven by the exotic pet trade.
More than 7,000 animals, dead and alive, have been seized along the Thailand-India air route in the last three years, it said. AFP
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