In less than a week, the Mumbai Airport Customs have recovered nearly 70 exotic wildlife animals smuggled from Bangkok in two separate cases. The agency officials have arrested two persons allegedly involved in trafficking of these animals. Customs officials said that some of the animals are of endangered species and are covered under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora.
First Seizure: Protected Primates and Albino Turtles
According to the Customs sources, on 08.08.2025, on the basis of specific intelligence, Customs officers at CSMI Airport, Mumbai had intercepted one passenger who had arrived from Bangkok and recovered wildlife (live animals) from his possession. The Customs officials had seized two Kinkajou (Potos flavus), two Pygmy Marmoset (Cebuella sp.), both listed in CITES and Schedule IV of the amended Wildlife (Protection) Act and 50 Albino Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta). The said wildlife was found concealed in the dark grey-coloured trolley bag of the passenger who was then arrested under the provisions of Customs Act and Wildlife Protection Act.
Second Seizure: Lizards, Turtles, and Tarantulas
In another case, on 11.08.2025, on the basis of intelligence, Customs officers at CSMI Airport intercepted one passenger who had arrived from Bangkok and recovered wildlife (live animals), including three Meerkat (Suricata suricatta), one Common Blue Tongued Skink (Tiliqua scincoides), one Four Eyed Turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata), two Iguana (Red and Green) (Iguana spp.), Pinktoe Tarantula (Avicularia avicularia) (White and Orange Colour), two Brachypelma Tarantula (Grey Greenish Colour), Antilles Pinktoe Tarantula (Caribena versicolor) (Blue Color), three Ceram Mangrove Monitor Lizard (Varanus cerambonensis) and some Tree Crickets (Oecanthinae). These wildlife were concealed in the trolley bag carried by the passenger, who was later arrested.
Probe into Source and Buyers Ongoing
With the help of NGOs, Customs officials secure the recovered animals and deport them to their origin country after obtaining necessary deportation orders from the Animal Quarantine Department. These exotic animals are sold for lakhs of rupees illegally to the clients who keep them at their premises, Customs sources said, adding that they are probing from where the passengers had sourced the animals and who were supposed to buy them in Mumbai.
