Latest news with #GoodmanLinfordLeo
News18
30-06-2025
- News18
Man Held At Mumbai Airport For Smuggling 16 Exotic Snakes Hidden in Chocolate Boxes
Last Updated: Customs at Mumbai airport caught a man smuggling 16 exotic snakes from Thailand. The snakes were hidden in pouches among chocolates. Customs officials at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport have apprehended a man trying to smuggle 16 exotic snakes from Thailand. The accused, identified as Goodman Linford Leo, a Tamil Nadu resident, was caught red-handed by Mumbai Airport Customs on June 27. Officials got suspicious due to Leo's uncanny movement, and his check-in baggage was scanned. Upon scanning, the airport officials found five Albino Honduran milk snakes, two garter snakes, two Kenyan sand boas, a coastal banded California king snake, five rhinoceros rat snakes and an albino rat snake. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau identified the snakes that were concealed in 15 white pouches and camouflaged among chocolates. Notably, this is the third such seizure this month. Earlier this month, Mumbai Customs officials at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) held a passenger attempting to smuggle 52 live reptiles. This passenger arrived from Bangkok on Thai Airways flight TG317. He was flagged by the officials due to unusual behaviour and intelligence. Upon scanning his baggage, the officials were shocked to find 52 live reptiles. Among them were three Spider-Tailed Horned Vipers, a rare desert snake species. The officers also found five Asian Leaf Turtles, a species native to Southeast Asia and frequently targeted in the exotic pet trade. Additionally, 44 Indonesian Pit Vipers were also found. Customs officers informed the concerned authorities. The Spider-Tailed Horned Viper and Asian Leaf Turtle are listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The passenger was arrested under relevant sections of the Customs Act, 1962. Another reptile smuggling racket was busted at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar. Customs officials seized a variety of exotic species, including Californian king snakes, monitor lizards, chameleons and tortoises from a man who was on his way to Chennai from Hong Kong. First Published: June 30, 2025, 13:10 IST
Hindustan Times
30-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Chennai man smuggles 16 live snakes on Bangkok-Mumbai flight, arrested
Customs officials at the Mumbai International Airport have arrested a Chennai man attempting to smuggle 16 live exotic snakes from Thailand - the third major wildlife trafficking case at the airport this month. Among the seized reptiles were two Kenyan sand boas, five rhinoceros rat snakes, three albino snakes, and more. The passenger, identified as 34-year-old Goodman Linford Leo from Chennai, arrived on a flight from Bangkok on Friday night. Upon inspection of his baggage, customs officials discovered cotton bags containing the live reptiles, a mix of rare and exotic species. "Customs officers at CSMI Airport, Mumbai Customs Zone-III foiled yet another wild life smuggling attempt, 16 live snakes-Garter, Rhino Rat, Albino Rat, Kenyan Sand Boa, CA King etc. seized from passenger returning from Thailand. Passenger arrested. Further investigation underway," the Customs Department said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). Among the seized reptiles were two Kenyan sand boas, five rhinoceros rat snakes, three albino snakes, two Honduran milk snakes, one California kingsnake, two garter snakes, and one albino rat snake. Most of the snakes were non-venomous or carried venom too weak to pose a serious risk to humans, officials said. Leo was arrested under the Customs Act for illegally smuggling exotic wildlife. Preliminary investigations suggest he may be part of a wider international trafficking syndicate. A probe is currently underway. Wildlife experts from the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare assisted customs officials in identifying and safely handling the animals. Authorities are now coordinating with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to repatriate the snakes to Thailand under the Wildlife Protection Act. This marks the third such wildlife seizure in Mumbai in June alone. Earlier this month, customs stopped one traveler attempting to bring in dozens of venomous vipers. Just days later, another smuggler was caught with 100 exotic animals, including sunbirds, lizards, and possums.
Mint
29-06-2025
- Mint
Man found with snakes hidden in chocolate boxes at Mumbai airport
A man from Tamil Nadu was recently apprehended at Mumbai Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle exotic snakes in the country. The accused identified as Goodman Linford Leo, who was trying to smuggle a total of 16 exotic snakes, was caught red handed by Mumbai Airport Customs on June 27 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, the Times of India reported. The airport officials "suspicious of his movement" scanned his check-in baggage only to find five Albino Honduran milk snakes, two garter snakes, two Kenyan sand boas, a coastal banded California king snake, five rhinoceros rat snakes and an albino rat snake. These exotic species, identified by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, were concealed in 15 white cloth pouches tied with thread and rubber bands. To hide these pouches and deceive screening at checkpoints, the accused used chocolate boxes and old clothes. However, the officials grew sceptical of his uncanny moves through the green channel and stopped him for examination. According to custom officials, the accused planned to smuggle these beauties of the wild to sell them in the grey market, as per the report. He sought to exchange them of enormous amount of money that would have fetched him "several" lakhs. Although, neither of the above mentioned species is listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) but import of these exotic snake species is illegal without documentation. Moreover, the accused confessed to smuggling them for financial gain. CITES refers to an international agreement between nations to regulates or bans the trade of threatened species. This convention came into force to control international trade in wild animals and plants. CITES seeks to ensure sustainable trade in wild animals and plants without compromising their existence. India, an active participant, complies with the need of permits and re-export certificates while exporting wild animals and plants.
Hindustan Times
29-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Passenger arrested with 16 exotic snakes at Mumbai airport
Jun 29, 2025 07:48 AM IST Mumbai: A 34-year-old man was arrested by Customs officials at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for trying to smuggle 16 exotic snakes into the country. The man was identified as Goodman Linford Leo, from Chennai. Passenger arrested with 16 exotic snakes at Mumbai airport Customs staff intercepted the flyer after he arrived in the city from Bangkok on Friday night, according to passenger's baggage had cotton bags stuffed with 16 live snakes, including two Kenyan sand boas, five rhinoceros rat snakes, three albino snakes, two Honduran milk snakes, one California kingsnake, two garter snakes, and one albino rat snake, officials said. The accused was booked under the Customs Act for smuggling exotic animals illegally. Preliminary investigations suggest he's part of a larger wildlife trafficking syndicate, which is under investigation. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and Customs are working to send back the reptiles to the source country as per the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, said an from Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare helped in the handling and identification of the snakes, the official added.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Time of India
Snakes on a plane! 16 stuffed in cloth pouches amid chocolates
1 2 Mumbai: A man hailing from Tamil Nadu who was allegedly trying to illegally smuggle in exotic snakes into the country was arrested at the city airport on Friday. The accused, Goodman Linford Leo, was intercepted at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by Mumbai Airport Customs after officials said that they grew "suspicious of his movement" while exiting through the green channel. Customs officials said they examined his check-in baggage, and found 15 white cloth pouches tied with thread and rubber bands, camouflaged among chocolates and old clothes. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai On opening the pouches, officials found live exotic snakes, which were later identified by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau as two garter snakes, five rhinoceros rat snakes, an albino rat snakes, two Kenyan sand boas, a coastal banded California king snake, and five Albino Honduran milk snakes. Officials said that the accused had smuggled these exotic snakes to sell them in the grey market which would have fetched them "several" lakhs. None of the species is listed under the CITES convention, but import without documentation is illegal. The accused admitted to having knowingly smuggled the reptiles for monetary gain, said officials.
