Major Wildlife Smuggling Bust at Chennai Airport Nets 49 Exotic Specimens
In a dramatic crackdown, customs officials at Chennai International Airport have seized a total of 49 exotic wildlife specimens across 12 different species in two back-to-back smuggling attempts on consecutive days. The haul included sedated and venomous animals such as gibbons, cobras, pythons, and monitor lizards, highlighting a serious threat to biodiversity and international law.
First Incident: Passenger Intercepted from Kuala Lumpur
On April 3, the Air Intelligence team of Chennai customs intercepted a passenger arriving from Kuala Lumpur on an AirAsia flight. Acting on suspicion, officials discovered cages cleverly hidden among clothes in his checked-in luggage. These cages contained various sedated wildlife species.
Upon receiving information, a team from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) rushed to the airport to identify the species. The seizure included:
- Two Indonesian blue-tongued skinks (Tiliqua gigas)
- Ten water monitor lizards (Varanus salvator)
- Two Sulawesi mangrove snakes (Boiga dendrophila gemmicincta)
- Eight California king snakes (Lampropeltis californiae)
- Four albino Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus)
- Six cobras (genus Naja)
- An albino gecko
- A red viper (Trimeresurus)
Medical examinations confirmed all 34 specimens were healthy. During inquiries, the passenger, an Indian national working in Malaysia who was returning to Chennai after three years, claimed that another person at the airport handed him the luggage with a promise of monetary gains upon delivery. He was arrested under the Wildlife Act and remanded in judicial custody. The seized species were subsequently repatriated to Malaysia via the same airline.
Second Incident: Unclaimed Bag with Gibbons and Spiders
The very next day, on April 4, customs officials were alerted about an unclaimed trolley bag at the arrival terminal. Upon inspection, they found 15 wildlife specimens concealed inside, including:
- A silvery gibbon (Hylobates moloch)
- A yellow-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus gabriellae)
- Four Indian palm squirrels (Funambulus palmarum)
- Nine spiders
Investigations revealed that a passenger who arrived from Bangkok on a Thai Airways flight had abandoned the luggage and fled the airport. Customs sleuths are actively investigating to trace the smuggler. The seized wildlife were deported to Bangkok on the same day.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Investigations
Customs officials noted that they have encountered venomous species being smuggled for an extended period and are probing whether these animals were ordered for specific purposes. There is a suspicion that wildlife smuggling might have resurfaced due to the West Asian crisis, as cartels, unable to smuggle gold from Gulf destinations due to tightened vigilance, may be shifting their focus.
In line with standard procedures during the model code of conduct, the Election Commission was also alerted about the seizures. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges in combating illegal wildlife trade and the critical role of airport security in protecting endangered species.
