Latest news with #wildlife trafficking
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Airport authorities make shocking discovery during routine luggage inspection: 'The suspect was detained on the spot'
Airport authorities make shocking discovery during routine luggage inspection: 'The suspect was detained on the spot' A man was caught trying to smuggle endangered primates hidden in his suitcase through airport security. The arrest highlights a growing global crisis: wildlife trafficking through major travel hubs. What happened? According to the New Straits Times, a man attempting to board a flight from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to Mumbai, India, was detained after it was discovered he was trying to smuggle four endangered black-handed gibbons inside his luggage. The animals, valued at around RM30,000 (roughly $6,400 USD), were discovered during a routine inspection at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). "The suspect was detained on the spot and taken to the Aeropolis police headquarters for further action," officials from Malaysia's Border Control and Protection Agency confirmed in a statement. The gibbons have since been handed over to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan). Authorities are pursuing charges under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008. The arrest was part of a coordinated enforcement effort launched in partnership with Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Perhilitan, aimed at cracking down on trafficking activity through high-risk aviation entry points. "AVSEC and Perhilitan will continue to tighten security controls at KLIA and will not compromise with any party involved in wildlife trafficking via air routes," the statement added. Why is wildlife trafficking concerning? Trafficking endangered species isn't just a crime; it is also a direct threat to global biodiversity and the stability of ecosystems that humans rely on. When animals are taken from their habitats and moved across borders, they can introduce disease, destabilize local ecosystems, and fuel illegal trade networks that undermine years of conservation progress. Many species are on the brink of extinction due to deforestation and poaching. When they are pulled from the wild, they leave gaps that forests can't easily fill. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Gibbons play essential roles in seed dispersal and forest regeneration. Without them, ecosystems grow weaker and become less resilient. What's being done about wildlife trafficking? In Malaysia and other countries across Southeast Asia, officials have stepped up efforts to intercept smugglers at key transit points like KLIA, which often serve as launch points for illegal animal exports. But long-term success depends on sustained coordination between wildlife agencies, customs, and law enforcement, as well as stronger international penalties. There's also a role for the public. Avoiding the purchase of exotic pets or products made from endangered species, reporting suspicious animal listings online, and supporting reputable wildlife organizations can help shrink demand and pressure traffickers' supply chains. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
Authorities make 'historic bust' after finding concerning cargo in shipping container: 'Cartels seek to legally and illegally harvest more and more'
Authorities are working to combat wildlife trafficking across the world, and officials in Mexico have made a "historic bust." According to Mexico News Daily, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) and the Naval Ministry (SEMAR) confiscated 135 sacks of shark fins, totaling 2,433 kilograms (over 5,000 pounds) during an inspection of a shipping container at the Port of Ensenada, Baja California. The traffickers took the fins from various shark species, including silky sharks, hammerheads, and bull sharks, and some were from baby and juvenile sharks. While the fins found were not from sharks listed as threatened or endangered, they were from the CITES Appendix II list, which means they are at risk of being threatened if trade is not regulated. Mexico News Daily reported, "The export of such sharks to international markets is regulated by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and since the ship's captain did not possess the corresponding CITES certificate, the fins were seized." The ship was headed to Shanghai, China. According to the 2022 Brookings report, "Chinese actors and markets are thickly intertwined in Mexico's illegal economies, such as drug and wildlife trafficking and money laundering." Additionally, animals, including shark fins, are used to buy drug precursors. The Brookings report noted, "The increasing role of this payment method can devastate biodiversity in Mexico, as the cartels seek to legally and illegally harvest more and more of a wider and wider range of animal and plant species to pay for precursors." Biodiversity is vital for human survival. According to The Royal Society, a healthy ecosystem, comprising a diverse range of microorganisms, plants, and animals, is essential for the food humans eat and the air they breathe. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Some forms of wildlife trafficking involve introducing foreign species into an ecosystem. While not all foreign species are invasive, the ones that are can harm the local ecosystem — invasive species can take out native species. Countries and U.S. states are working to pass laws to combat wildlife trafficking. For example, in May, the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill was passed in Nigeria's House of Representatives. Colorado also enacted a law that toughens penalties for wildlife traffickers and strengthens enforcement. If you're concerned about wildlife trafficking, you can use your voice to speak with your representatives and advocate for similar laws to be passed near you. It will help protect your ecosystem and the animals. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CTV News
02-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Snakes on a plane: Indian smuggler caught with venomous vipers
In this Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015 photo, an aircraft flies above the slums near the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, India. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade) A passenger smuggling dozens of venomous vipers was stopped after flying into the financial capital Mumbai from Thailand, Indian customs officials said. The snakes, which included 44 Indonesian pit vipers, were 'concealed in checked-in baggage', Mumbai Customs said in a statement late Sunday. 'An Indian national arriving from Thailand was arrested,' it added. The passenger, details of whom were not released, also had three Spider-tailed horned vipers -- which are venomous, but usually only target small prey such as birds -- as well as five Asian leaf turtles. Mumbai Customs issued photographs of the seized snakes, including blue and yellow reptiles squirming in a bucket. On 01.06.2025, officers at CSMIA seized 3 Spider-Tailed Horned Vipers & 5 Asian Leaf Turtles (CITES Appendix-II), along with 44 Indonesian Pit Vipers, concealed in checked-in baggage. An Indian national arriving from Thailand was arrested. — Mumbai Customs-III (@mumbaicus3) June 1, 2025 The snakes are a relatively unusual seizure in Mumbai, with customs officers more regularly posting pictures of hauls of smuggled gold, cash, cannabis or pills of suspected cocaine swallowed by passengers. However, in February, customs officials at Mumbai airport also stopped a smuggler with five Siamang gibbons, a small ape native to the forests of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Those small creatures, listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, were 'ingeniously concealed' in a plastic crate placed inside the passenger's trolley bag, customs officers said. In November, customs officers seized a passenger carrying a wriggling live cargo of 12 turtles, and a month before, four hornbill birds, all on planes arriving from Thailand. In September, two passengers were arrested with five juvenile caimans, a reptile in the alligator family.
CBS News
02-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
Smuggler caught with dozens of venomous vipers "concealed in checked-in baggage" on plane, customs officials say
A passenger smuggling dozens of venomous vipers was stopped after flying into the financial capital Mumbai, India from Thailand, Indian customs officials said. The snakes, which included 44 Indonesian pit vipers, were "concealed in checked-in baggage," Mumbai Customs said in a statement late Sunday. "An Indian national arriving from Thailand was arrested," it added. The passenger also had three Spider-tailed horned vipers -- which are venomous, but usually only target small prey such as birds -- as well as five Asian leaf turtles. Mumbai Customs issued photographs of the seized snakes, including blue and yellow reptiles squirming in a bucket. The snakes are a relatively unusual seizure in Mumbai, with customs officers more regularly posting pictures of hauls of smuggled gold, cash, cannabis or pills of suspected cocaine swallowed by passengers. However, in February, customs officials at Mumbai airport also stopped a smuggler with five Siamang gibbons, a small ape native to the forests of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Those small creatures, listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, were "ingeniously concealed" in a plastic crate placed inside the passenger's trolley bag, customs officers said. In November, customs officers seized a passenger carrying a wriggling live cargo of 12 turtles, and a month before, four hornbill birds, all on planes arriving from Thailand. In September, two passengers were arrested with five juvenile caimans, a reptile in the alligator family.
South China Morning Post
02-06-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Indian smuggler caught with 44 venomous vipers in luggage
A passenger smuggling dozens of venomous vipers was stopped after flying into the financial capital Mumbai from Thailand , according to Indian customs officials. The snakes, which included 44 Indonesian pit vipers, were 'concealed in checked-in baggage', Mumbai Customs said in a statement late on Sunday. 'An Indian national arriving from Thailand was arrested,' it added. The passenger, details of whom were not released, also had three spider-tailed horned vipers – which are venomous, but usually only target small prey such as birds – as well as five Asian leaf turtles. Three spider-tailed horned vipers were also found in the passenger's luggage on Sunday. Photo: X/MumbaiCus3 Mumbai Customs issued photographs of the seized snakes, including blue and yellow reptiles squirming in a bucket.
