Passenger Arrested At Mumbai Airport For Smuggling 54 Exotic Animals
A passenger was apprehended at Mumbai airport allegedly with 54 exotic animals, an official said on Saturday.
The passenger had arrived from Bangkok in Thailand onboard an IndiGo Airlines flights on Friday afternoon, the official said.
On 08.08.2025, Customs Officers at CSMI Airport, Mumbai Customs Zone-III foiled a wildlife smuggling attempt. The officers recovered Albino Red eared Slider turtles, Marmosets and Kinkajou from 01 passenger returning from Bangkok. The passenger has been arrested. pic.twitter.com/IOFzPYsxFM
— Mumbai Customs-III (@mumbaicus3) August 9, 2025
"We seized species like Albino Red Eared Slider Turtles, Marmosets and Cuscus (a type of nocturnal marsupials) from his luggage. Immediate orders were issued by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to send back the animals to Bangkok as per Wildlife Protection Act and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)," he said.
The seizure was made with the help of wildlife rescue experts from Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare, the official said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Trafficked Meerkats, Lizards, and More Sent Back to Bangkok After Mumbai Airport Seizure
Mumbai: Two consignments of trafficked wildlife intercepted at Mumbai airport on separate occasions on Aug 8 and 11 were deported back to their place of origin and natural habitat, Bangkok, on Wednesday, whilst following the international standard and ethics protocol. The consignments comprised three meerkats, three lizards, two iguanas, one skink, one four-eyed turtle, over a hundred spiders, two marmosets, and 50 albino red-eared sliders. According to Pawan Sharma, Honorary Wildlife Warden of Thane, "As per the Wildlife Protection Act, the seized animals were temporarily kept under the care of recognised facilities for medical intervention after their interception, which were later handed over to the concerned authorities on Tuesday night for deportation to the country of origin. The animals were first stabilised and given necessary treatment. " Yogesh Warkad, Deputy Director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, told TOI, "Our job was limited to certain aspects. We completed the identification process and legal position of the wildlife besides animal quarantine and coordinating with the concerned authorities." He further confirmed the deportation. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Gold Rates Today in Mumbai | Silver Rates Today in Mumbai The deportation process followed the new guidelines issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on July 23, which reiterated regulations laid down by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) and the customs department regarding the immediate deportation of trafficked animals to their country of origin. Airlines through which animals are brought into the country illegally are responsible for their deportation, as per the regulations. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Flyer caught smuggling rare marmoset monkeys and other exotic animals in a suitcase: What makes these animals so exotic and expensive
Customs officials at Mumbai's airport apprehended Sharukkhan Mohammed Hussain arriving from Bangkok, discovering a hidden menagerie in his luggage. The illicit cargo included two live kinkajous, two pygmy marmosets, and 50 albino red-eared sliders. Hussain's arrest highlights the ongoing struggle against wildlife smuggling, driven by the demand for exotic pets, with protected species treated as mere commodities. Airports are often seen as gateways to adventure, business, or homecomings, but sometimes, they also come under the limelight for some disturbing discoveries. Hidden behind the hustle of these stories is that they reveal just how far some will go in pursuit of profit, even at the cost of living beings. These aren't just rare cases of smuggling; they show a growing global problem where wildlife is treated as cargo, not living creatures. A recent case at Mumbai's international airport has brought this harsh reality back into focus, as a passenger named Sharukkhan Mohammed Hussain was detained by customs officials at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport while returning from Bangkok. Acting on specific intelligence, they opened his dark-coloured trolley bag and discovered two live kinkajous, two pygmy marmosets, and 50 albino red-eared sliders, according to a TOI report. All animals were alive and hidden in the luggage, which raised immediate alarms among wildlife protection authorities. Hussain was immediately arrested under the Customs Act, 1962, and the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Kinkajous and pygmy marmosets fall under various protected lists of CITES and India's Wildlife Protection Act, while albino red-eared sliders are rare and highly sought after, they are not listed under these protections. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 30 Beautiful women who lived 80-100 years ago Undo Marmoset monkeys(Photo : Mumbai Customs 3 @X) What makes these animals special and expensive Kinkajous, also known as 'honey bears,' are nocturnal rainforest mammals native to Central and South America. Their exotic appearance and rarity make them a highly illegal pet choice. They're protected under Appendix III of CITES and Schedule IV of India's Wildlife Protection Act. Pygmy marmosets are irresistible, but under significant threat. Apart from these, Albino red-eared sliders are not threatened in the same way, but their rare albino appearance makes them especially valuable in the illicit exotic pet market.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Indian Express
IndiGo fined Rs 1.75 lakh for giving ‘unhygienic, stained' seat to elderly passenger
A Delhi consumer forum recently held IndiGo Airlines guilty of deficiency in services for providing a 60-year-old woman an 'unhygienic and stained' seat. It directed the airlines to pay her Rs 1.75 lakh in compensation for the mental agony, pain and litigation expenses. '… airlines are required to maintain proper records of aircraft cleaning cycles and ensure that cabin crew are adequately trained in basic infection control measures. The DGCA regulations… mandate specific hygiene and sanitation responsibilities for the crew on board to ensure a clean and safe cabin environment for passengers,' the New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission held in its order dated July 18. 'However, the Opposite Party has failed to produce or maintain records of the cleaning cycles and has also not demonstrated compliance with the requirement to train the crew in basic infection control protocols,' the Commission added. Pinki, the complainant in this case, had boarded a flight from Azerbaijan to New Delhi on January 2 this year. As per her complaint, she found that the seat she was allotted was 'unhygienic, dirty, and stained'. On bringing this to the notice of the crew, they stated that the seats were not stained or dirty, alleged Pinki. She also stated that after they displayed helplessness in replacing her seat, she endured emotional distress throughout the duration of the flight which caused her mental anguish. To counter Pinki's claims, the airlines relied on mainly two arguments. First, it stated that the complainant had 'erroneously' filed the complaint against 'IndiGo Airlines', which was not a legal entity. Its claim was that the complaint should have been filed against InterGlobe Aviation Limited. Secondly, the airlines stated that the cabin crew immediately took cognizance of the complaints and accommodated her on a different seat. It added that it apologised for the inconvenience caused and exhausted all possible options to clean the seat before making the switch.
