Mumbai Airport Customs Busts Wildlife Smuggling Attempt, 16 Exotic Snakes Seized From Passenger Arriving From Bangkok

Mumbai: In a major wildlife trafficking bust, a 34-year-old man from Chennai was arrested by Customs officials at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for allegedly smuggling 16 exotic snakes into the country. The accused, identified as Goodman Linford Leo, was intercepted on Friday night after he landed in Mumbai from Bangkok.

Officials said a routine baggage scan revealed suspicious contents inside Leo’s luggage. Upon further inspection, Customs officers discovered several cotton bags containing 16 live snakes, including rare and exotic species. Among the reptiles were 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, reported Hindustan Times.

Authorities stated that the accused had no documentation or permissions to import wildlife species and was booked under the Customs Act for illegal trafficking of exotic animals. Preliminary investigations have revealed that Leo may be a part of a larger international wildlife trafficking syndicate operating between Southeast Asia and India. Officials have initiated a deeper probe to trace the network’s broader links.

The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has been roped in to assist in the investigation. As per the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, steps are being taken to send the reptiles back to their country of origin. The Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), an NGO specialising in the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife, supported authorities in the safe handling and identification of the seized snakes.

115 Green Iguanas, Rare Species Seized In Another Incident

This incident comes just days after another major interception at the Mumbai airport. On June 25, the Air Intelligence Unit of Mumbai Customs arrested two Indian nationals who had also arrived from Bangkok. Their luggage, upon inspection, was found to contain live and dead exotic wildlife species.

Among the animals recovered in that case were two Sumatran striped rabbits (Nesolagus netscheri), one Waigeo spotted cuscus (Spilocuscus papuensis), three brown basilisk lizards (two alive, one dead), and a staggering 115 green iguanas (Iguana spp.). All animals had been hidden within personal belongings.