Overview

• Mumbai Customs Zone-III officers intercepted an Indian national arriving from Bangkok on flight AI338 on June 9 and found 94 wildlife specimens concealed in his luggage.
• The seized animals included 80 iguanas (50 alive, 30 dead), multiple tarantula species, sugar gliders, a honey bear, sunbirds, finchbills and Brazilian cherry head tortoises.
• Customs officials confirmed several of the species are protected under CITES Appendices II and III and listed in Schedule I or IV of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• The passenger was arrested under the Customs Act, 1962, after exhibiting nervous behavior during a routine profiling and baggage inspection.
• An ongoing probe aims to uncover the source of the shipment and any connections to established international wildlife-smuggling networks.