2 Indian nationals nabbed in Bengaluru with nearly 3k slider turtles
Despite numerous warnings issued by authorities, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) continues to be used by smugglers to transport wildlife out of the country, especially to India.
Yesterday, Indian Customs authorities stopped two Indian nationals who had just arrived at the Kempegowda International Airport, in Bengaluru, India, via IndiGo flight 6E-1038 from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 10.59pm.
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The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
Indian smuggler on flight from Thailand stopped with possums, lizards, tarantulas
The man had almost 100 animals, including tree-climbing possums, with him when he was caught. - Supplied MUMBAI: Indian customs officers made the latest "significant" seizure of endangered wildlife from a passenger arriving from Thailand, a government statement said, carrying nearly 100 creatures including lizards, sunbirds and tree-climbing possums. Customs officers said the passenger, who was also carrying two tarantula spiders and tortoises, had "exhibited signs of nervousness" on arrival at India's financial capital Mumbai. The seizure comes after a passenger was stopped smuggling dozens of venomous vipers, also arriving from Thailand, earlier in June. Wildlife seized included iguanas, as well as a kinkajou or honey bear -- a small raccoon-like animal from Mexico's rainforests -- as well as six "sugar gliders", a gliding possum found in Australia. Photographs released by the customs unit showed the six sugar gliders huddled together in a basket, as well as a box crammed with lizards. "In a significant operation, customs officers... intercepted an Indian national... leading to the seizure of multiple live and deceased wildlife species, some of which are protected under wildlife protection laws", the Ministry of Finance said in a statement late Monday (June 9). Wildlife trade monitor TRAFFIC, which battles the smuggling of wild animals and plants, on Tuesday warned of a "very troubling" trend in trafficking driven by the exotic pet trade. More than 7,000 animals, dead and alive, have been seized along the Thailand-India air route in the last 3.5 years, it said. Customs officers at Mumbai airport are more used to seizing smuggled gold, cash or cannabis -- but instances of wildlife seizure have seen a gradual rise recently. Customs officers seized dozens of snakes and several turtles from an Indian national flying from Thailand earlier in June. Among them were several spider-tailed horned vipers, a venomous species only described by scientists in 2006 and classed as "near-threatened" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). TRAFFIC said its analysis showed that while most cases involve animals smuggled out of Thailand, more than 80 per cent of interceptions happened in India. "The almost-weekly discoveries and diversity of wildlife en route to India is very troubling," said TRAFFIC's South-East Asia director Kanitha Krishnasamy. Many of those captured were alive, which "shows that the clamour for exotic pets is driving the trade", she added. In February, customs officials at Mumbai airport also stopped a smuggler with five Siamang gibbons, a small ape native to the forests of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Those small creatures, listed as endangered by the IUCN, were "ingeniously concealed" in a plastic crate placed inside the passenger's trolley bag, customs officers said. In November, authorities found a passenger carrying a wriggling live cargo of 12 turtles. -
Free Malaysia Today
12 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Indian smuggler stopped with possums, lizards, tarantulas
More than 7,000 animals have been seized along the Thailand-India air route in the last 3½ years. (Thai customs/AFP pic) MUMBAI : Indian customs officers made the latest 'significant' seizure of endangered wildlife from a passenger arriving from Thailand, a government statement said, carrying nearly 100 creatures including lizards, sunbirds and tree-climbing possums. Customs officers said the passenger, who was also carrying two tarantula spiders and tortoises, had 'exhibited signs of nervousness' on arrival at India's financial capital Mumbai. The seizure comes after a passenger was stopped smuggling dozens of venomous vipers, also arriving from Thailand, earlier in June. Wildlife seized included iguanas, as well as a kinkajou or honey bear – a small raccoon-like animal from Mexico's rainforests – as well as six 'sugar gliders', a gliding possum found in Australia. Photographs released by the customs unit showed the six sugar gliders huddled together in a basket, as well as a box crammed with lizards. 'In a significant operation, customs officers… intercepted an Indian national… leading to the seizure of multiple live and deceased wildlife species, some of which are protected under wildlife protection laws', the ministry of finance said in a statement late yesterday. Wildlife trade monitor TRAFFIC, which battles the smuggling of wild animals and plants, today warned of a 'very troubling' trend in trafficking driven by the exotic pet trade. More than 7,000 animals, dead and alive, have been seized along the Thailand-India air route in the last 3½ years, it said. Customs officers at Mumbai airport are more used to seizing smuggled gold, cash or cannabis – but instances of wildlife seizure have seen a gradual rise recently. Customs officers seized dozens of snakes and several turtles from an Indian national flying from Thailand earlier in June. Among them were several spider-tailed horned vipers, a venomous species only described by scientists in 2006 and classed as 'near-threatened' by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). TRAFFIC said its analysis showed that while most cases involve animals smuggled out of Thailand, more than 80% of interceptions happened in India. 'The almost-weekly discoveries and diversity of wildlife en route to India is very troubling,' said TRAFFIC's Southeast Asia director Kanitha Krishnasamy. Many of those captured were alive, which 'shows that the clamour for exotic pets is driving the trade', she added. In February, customs officials at Mumbai airport also stopped a smuggler with five siamang gibbons, a small ape native to the forests of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Those small creatures, listed as endangered by the IUCN, were 'ingeniously concealed' in a plastic crate placed inside the passenger's trolley bag, customs officers said. In November, authorities found a passenger carrying a wriggling live cargo of 12 turtles.
The Star
14 hours ago
- The Star
Snakes on a plane highlight Thailand-India trafficking: NGO
Among the seized snakes were 44 Indonesian pit vipers which were 'concealed in checked-in baggage'.- MUMBAI CUSTOMS/X BANGKOK: Venomous vipers found in checked bags on a flight from Thailand to India illustrate a "very troubling" trend in wildlife trafficking driven by the exotic pet trade, an NGO warned Tuesday (June 10). Indian customs officials last week arrested an Indian national after finding dozens of snakes and several turtles in their luggage. Among them were several spider-tailed horned vipers, a venomous species only described by scientists in 2006 and classed as "near-threatened" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The reptiles are among over 7,000 animals, dead and alive, that have been seized along the Thailand-India air route in the last 3.5 years, said Traffic, which battles the smuggling of wild animals and plants. "The almost-weekly discoveries and diversity of wildlife en route to India is very troubling," said Traffic's Southeast Asia director Kanitha Krishnasamy. Many of those captured were alive, which "shows that the clamour for exotic pets is driving the trade", she added. The group said its analysis showed that while most cases involve animals smuggled out of Thailand, over 80 per cent of interceptions happened in India. More than a third of the wildlife seized is covered by rules banning or strictly regulating their trade across international borders, Traffic added. The group said the "scale and frequency" of the cases suggested more work was needed to investigate "the criminal networks supplying this seemingly endless conveyor belt of wildlife-stuffed bags". They also urged Thailand to work with regional neighbours that have seen similar trafficking routes to India. Thailand is considered a major transit hub for wildlife smugglers, who often sell highly-prized endangered creatures on the lucrative black market in China, Vietnam and Taiwan. Last month, Thai police arrested a man suspected of smuggling two baby orangutans into the kingdom for sale. - AFP
