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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Six exotic animals were trafficked from Bangkok seized at Kochi airport
KOCHI: In a major wildlife trafficking bust, the Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at Kochi airport on Monday intercepted two passengers who were found smuggling six exotic animals from Bangkok. The animals were concealed in their checked-in baggage. The rescued animals include three common marmosets, two white-lipped tamarins — both native to the Amazon rainforest — and a hyacinth macaw, a rare parrot species found in South America. Acting on a tip-off, the customs officers intercepted the duo at the airport's exit gate and carried out a detailed inspection of their luggage, which led to the discovery and seizure of the animals. Officials estimate the market value of the seized animals to be over `5 lakh. 'These animals are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, and their possession is strictly prohibited in India,' said a customs official. The passengers, along with the seized animals, were handed over to the forest department for further action. An official communication was also sent to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) regarding the incident. The forest department will register a case, after which the animals will be repatriated to Bangkok.
News18
3 days ago
- News18
Man Held At Mumbai Airport For Smuggling 16 Exotic Snakes Hidden in Chocolate Boxes
Last Updated: Customs at Mumbai airport caught a man smuggling 16 exotic snakes from Thailand. The snakes were hidden in pouches among chocolates. Customs officials at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport have apprehended a man trying to smuggle 16 exotic snakes from Thailand. The accused, identified as Goodman Linford Leo, a Tamil Nadu resident, was caught red-handed by Mumbai Airport Customs on June 27. Officials got suspicious due to Leo's uncanny movement, and his check-in baggage was scanned. Upon scanning, the airport officials found five Albino Honduran milk snakes, two garter snakes, two Kenyan sand boas, a coastal banded California king snake, five rhinoceros rat snakes and an albino rat snake. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau identified the snakes that were concealed in 15 white pouches and camouflaged among chocolates. Notably, this is the third such seizure this month. Earlier this month, Mumbai Customs officials at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) held a passenger attempting to smuggle 52 live reptiles. This passenger arrived from Bangkok on Thai Airways flight TG317. He was flagged by the officials due to unusual behaviour and intelligence. Upon scanning his baggage, the officials were shocked to find 52 live reptiles. Among them were three Spider-Tailed Horned Vipers, a rare desert snake species. The officers also found five Asian Leaf Turtles, a species native to Southeast Asia and frequently targeted in the exotic pet trade. Additionally, 44 Indonesian Pit Vipers were also found. Customs officers informed the concerned authorities. The Spider-Tailed Horned Viper and Asian Leaf Turtle are listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The passenger was arrested under relevant sections of the Customs Act, 1962. Another reptile smuggling racket was busted at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar. Customs officials seized a variety of exotic species, including Californian king snakes, monitor lizards, chameleons and tortoises from a man who was on his way to Chennai from Hong Kong. First Published: June 30, 2025, 13:10 IST
India Today
4 days ago
- India Today
16 live snakes seized from Bangkok flyer at Mumbai airport
A passenger who arrived from Bangkok was arrested at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on June 27 after Customs officials found 16 live snakes concealed in his baggage, news agency PTI reported, citing seizure occurred following a spot check by officers from Mumbai Customs Indian national, who had travelled on Flight 6E1052, was intercepted upon arrival. Officials said the passenger showed signs of nervousness during questioning, which prompted further inspection of his The search led to the recovery of multiple species of live snakes kept inside cotton bags. These included:Two Kenyan Sand Boas (Gongylophis colubrinus) (Image source: Mustafa Sheikh) Five Rhinoceros Rat Snakes (Gonyosoma boulengeri) (Image source: Mustafa Sheikh) One Albino Rat Snake (Pantherophis guttatus) (Image source: Mustafa Sheikh) advertisementTwo Garter Snakes (Thamnophis spp.) (Image source: Mustafa Sheikh) One Coastal Banded California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) (Image source: Mustafa Sheikh) Five Albino Honduran Milk Snakes (Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis) (Image source: Mustafa Sheikh) All the animals were seized as per procedures outlined under the Wildlife Protection Act, and a 'panchanama' was drawn on June 28. The passenger was arrested under provisions of the Customs Act, to PTI, officials confirmed that the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is coordinating with Customs authorities to initiate repatriation of the seized reptiles to their country of origin, in compliance with applicable wildlife from the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) assisted Customs in handling and identifying the investigation is underway.(With inputs from Mustafa Sheikh and PTI)- EndsMust Watch
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Passenger arrested with 16 exotic snakes at Mumbai airport
Jun 29, 2025 07:48 AM IST Mumbai: A 34-year-old man was arrested by Customs officials at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for trying to smuggle 16 exotic snakes into the country. The man was identified as Goodman Linford Leo, from Chennai. Passenger arrested with 16 exotic snakes at Mumbai airport Customs staff intercepted the flyer after he arrived in the city from Bangkok on Friday night, according to passenger's baggage had cotton bags stuffed with 16 live snakes, including two Kenyan sand boas, five rhinoceros rat snakes, three albino snakes, two Honduran milk snakes, one California kingsnake, two garter snakes, and one albino rat snake, officials said. The accused was booked under the Customs Act for smuggling exotic animals illegally. Preliminary investigations suggest he's part of a larger wildlife trafficking syndicate, which is under investigation. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and Customs are working to send back the reptiles to the source country as per the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, said an from Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare helped in the handling and identification of the snakes, the official added.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Snakes on a plane! 16 stuffed in cloth pouches amid chocolates
1 2 Mumbai: A man hailing from Tamil Nadu who was allegedly trying to illegally smuggle in exotic snakes into the country was arrested at the city airport on Friday. The accused, Goodman Linford Leo, was intercepted at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by Mumbai Airport Customs after officials said that they grew "suspicious of his movement" while exiting through the green channel. Customs officials said they examined his check-in baggage, and found 15 white cloth pouches tied with thread and rubber bands, camouflaged among chocolates and old clothes. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai On opening the pouches, officials found live exotic snakes, which were later identified by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau as two garter snakes, five rhinoceros rat snakes, an albino rat snakes, two Kenyan sand boas, a coastal banded California king snake, and five Albino Honduran milk snakes. Officials said that the accused had smuggled these exotic snakes to sell them in the grey market which would have fetched them "several" lakhs. None of the species is listed under the CITES convention, but import without documentation is illegal. The accused admitted to having knowingly smuggled the reptiles for monetary gain, said officials.
