Endangering wild animals being smuggled seized in CSMIA
A press note issued by Customs said, 'The officers at the airport recovered three meerkats (two alive and one dead), two great billed parrots or moluccan parrots, two Sumatran striped rabbits and an Indochinese box turtle from a passenger who flew in from Bangkok on Thursday. The passenger was arrested under the Wildlife protection Act, 1972 and Indian Customs Act.'
In the second case, a person travelling from Bangkok to Mumbai on Friday was arrested when he was found smuggling two Sumatran striped rabbits (one dead), a dead great billed parrot and one Indochinese box turtle. The animals being smuggled into India were found concealed in a green-coloured trolley bag. Proceedings against the passenger have been initiated as per the provisions of Customs Act, 1962 read with Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the press note said.
A wildlife rescue expert team from RAWW (Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare) assisted the officials in ensuring the safety and stabilization of the animals, said Pawan Sharma, founder of RAWW.
The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau ordered the deportation of these rescued animals to the country from which they arrived, an official said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
Cruelty caught on camera: Man ties python to bike and drags it for miles on the road
Animal safety isn't just about protecting species from extinction; it's about ensuring they're treated with dignity and compassion, even in everyday life. India is a biodiverse country, and wild animals often come into contact with people, especially in rural or forest-adjacent areas. These moments demand careful handling of animals instead of harming them. Unfortunately, not everyone acts with that awareness, and sometimes, the results are deeply disturbing. Despite strong wildlife protection laws and growing awareness, instances of cruelty against animals still occur. One such distressing incident recently came to light in Chhattisgarh. What does the video show A disturbing video from Kanker district in Chhattisgarh has triggered a wave of criticism after showing a python tied to a motorcycle and dragged for several kilometres along a rural road. The video surfaced on social media on August 1, 2025, and quickly went viral, with viewers voicing deep outrage at what they saw as extreme animal cruelty. As per reports available online, the footage takes place near Atur village in Kanker, where a young man is seen tying a rope to a large python and riding away on his bike, forcing the snake to be pulled behind, sliding across the rough road surface. Witnesses claim the python may have been dragged for around 3–4 km before the scene was captured by onlookers and circulated online. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Best Method for a Flat Stomach After 50 (It's Genius!) Lulutox Undo People across social media have responded with fury. Many commenters described the act as 'cruelty of the highest order' and urged immediate legal consequences. Wildlife activists and concerned citizens have appealed to the Chhattisgarh Forest Department and local police to quickly identify the individual seen in the video and take legal action under the Wildlife Protection Act. Pythons are listed under Schedule I of the act, and any act of cruel handling is a punishable offence. Under India's Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, causing harm to a Schedule I species or subjecting it to cruelty can result in fines, imprisonment, or both. Activists are urging authorities to adhere to these legal provisions and to deter similar incidents in the future. Although there are no confirmed reports from authorities, incidents like these serve as a wake-up call for taking considerable care and causing no harm to animals out in the wild.
The Hindu
17 hours ago
- The Hindu
Customs officials arrest mule trying to smuggle three gibbons in check-in baggage
The air intelligence unit of the Customs Department of the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Saturday caught a 37-year-old woman allegedly trying to smuggle three gibbons concealed in her check-in baggage, which were later found dead due to suffocation. The accused, identified as Najma, a resident of Bagalur, was caught as soon as she landed from a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok to Bengaluru. The accused, according to the officials, was working as a mule for an international wildlife smuggling racket and was earlier arrested for a similar offence reported by Chennai in February 2024 . The accused had allegedly stuffed the three gibbons in the check in bag along with packets of snacks to be handed over to her contacts waiting outside the airport. When the officials checked the baggage they found one silver gibbon and two Bornean white bearded gibbons dead. The accused has been booked under Wildlife Protection Act and taken into the custody to ascertain the people behind this network .
News18
21 hours ago
- News18
Foul Smell At Mumbai Airport Leads To Rs 8 Crore Drug Bust, 4 Arrested
Last Updated: When the passengers were collecting their bags and attempted to exit through the green channel, meant for those with nothing to declare, they were intercepted by customs officers A foul odour at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport triggered an unexpected drug bust, leading to the arrest of four passengers who had just landed from an international flight. Authorities say the operation unfolded after a vigilant official from the Air Intelligence Unit detected a suspicious stench near the baggage claim area. According to sources, the four individuals were waiting by the baggage belt after disembarking from their flight when the official, trained to recognise certain narcotics by smell, noticed the unusual odour. He immediately alerted customs personnel stationed near the terminal's green channel. When the passengers proceeded to collect their bags and attempted to exit through the green channel, meant for those with nothing to declare, they were intercepted by customs officers. A detailed examination of their luggage revealed multiple packets of hydroponic weed weighing a total of 8.012 kgs. The estimated street value of the seized contraband is around Rs 8 crore, officials said. All four passengers were arrested on the spot. 'Hydroponic weed," a senior customs official explained, 'is a high-grade variant of cannabis cultivated using specialised techniques. It's significantly more potent and expensive than conventional ganja, making it highly sought after in the black market." The arrests have raised concerns within security agencies about a growing trend of high-grade narcotics being smuggled into India through commercial air travel. Investigators are currently interrogating the suspects to determine whether they were acting independently or are part of a larger international drug syndicate. view comments First Published: August 02, 2025, 16:16 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
