Latest news with #WildlifeCrimeControlBureau
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Silvered leaf monkey, cuscuses seized at Kolkata airport
1 2 3 4 5 6 Kolkata: In the third seizure of rare and exotic animals at Kolkata airport since this Feb, a silvery lutung or silvered leaf monkey — an old-world monkey native to Sumatra, Borneo and Java — and a pair of common spotted cuscuses — a nocturnal marsupial found in Australia, New Guinea and nearby islands — were seized by Customs Air Intelligence Unit early on Thursday. Later, teams from the West Bengal forest department and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) reached the spot for identification and handling of the animals. A 35-year-old woman from north Kolkata has been detained in this connection. Sources said the consignment came on an Indigo flight from Bangkok. "The animals were brought in baskets meant for carrying garments for babies. Hence, it was initially getting difficult to have a closer look at the animals for identification," said an official. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata On June 27, two cuscuses — that look like slow loris — were seized at Kolkata airport. This Feb, two critically endangered red-shanked doucs, found only in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos were seized by Customs officials at Kolkata airport. Silvery lutung, said sources, is an old-world monkey. It is arboreal, living in coastal, mangrove, and riverine forests in Sumatra, Borneo, Java, as well as in parts of the southwestern Malay Peninsula, the Natuna Islands, and other nearby islands. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Pieces of Clothing you should Ditch over 40 Learn More Undo The silvery lutung is classified as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List. Its habitat is heavily threatened throughout its range by logging and the development of oil palm plantations. It is also threatened by hunting for meat and by capture for the pet trade. Cuscuses are slow-moving animals often found foraging on leaves, plants, and sometimes even catching birds and lizards. They are known for their long fur and large eyes. During the seizure in June, it couldn't be identified if it was a Waigeou cuscus or a common spotted cuscus. The officials of animal husbandry and dairying, animal quarantine and certification services, had issued orders in June as well as in Feb so that the seized animals could be deported to their country of origin. An official from the dept on Thursday said a process was on to identify the species. "A decision on their deportation will follow accordingly," he said.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Parts of endangered species seized in raid on astrologer's office in Faridabad
Gurgaon: Multiple pieces of Seafan, a type of protected soft coral commonly marketed under the name "Indrajaal", and the genital organs of Monitor Lizards — these were among the recoveries made on Wednesday at the office of an astrologer, who was allegedly promoting their sale and use through his Instagram account. These species enjoy the highest level of protection and any trade or possession is a serious offence under Indian wildlife law. In a crackdown on illegal wildlife trade linked to occult practices, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), along with the Haryana forest department, raided the office of Yagya Dutt Sharma (38) in Faridabad's Sector 7 on Wednesday and seized parts of the endangered species protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Sharma has been arrested. Acting on digital surveillance and social media monitoring, the WCCB tracked Sharma through his Instagram account, where he was allegedly promoting the sale and use of "Indrajaal" for its supposed spiritual or astrological benefits. Investigators found that the wildlife items were being sold in sets — five pieces of Seafan and three pieces of Monitor Lizard organs — purportedly for ritualistic purposes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Lợi ích khi giao dịch CFD Bitcoin IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon An FIR was registered in Sector 8 Faridabad police station. Divisional forest officer (DFO), wildlife, RK Jangra said, "The astrologer has been arrested. The seized items are derivatives of Schedule I species. Possession, trade or use of such items is punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years. We received the alert from WCCB and promptly formed a joint team to conduct the raid."
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Time of India
Gibbons smuggled from Bangkok seized
Chennai: Gibbons seem to be wildlife traffickers' latest favourite as customs sleuths thwarted their second bid in two weeks to smuggle them via Chennai airport from Thailand. On Tuesday, customs officers intercepted an Indian flyer and found the animals inside two pet bags concealed in checked-in luggage beneath chocolates and other food items. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau officers, who identified the monkeys as an agile gibbon (hylobates agilis) and an eastern grey gibbon (hylobates funereus), provided suitable care. The monkeys were deported on the same flight back to Thailand, and the flyer was remanded in judicial custody. Customs sources said that the flyer was a carrier engaged by a smuggler, and further investigation is ongoing to ascertain the latter's identity. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Customs officials, however, believe that there might be specific demand for these two monkeys, as they seized the same gibbon breeds on June 18 from a flyer who arrived from Thailand. Both gibbon varieties, in high demand in the international pet trade, are endangered. The agile gibbon is on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Sources in WCCB said that as a policy, they must not reveal the value of such species in the illegal pet trade, but added that gibbons are smuggled in high numbers to Chennai and Bengaluru to cater to the demand. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Previously, customs officers seized four gibbons in March that were smuggled from Kuala Lumpur, but two were found dead. In 2024, customs busted two attempts to smuggle five gibbons. Meanwhile, customs officers also seized 700g of gold from three different flyers. On June 30, customs officers secured a flyer at the domestic terminal at Chennai airport. He travelled from Dubai to Dhaka, then to Kolkata, and reached Chennai by an Indigo flight. About 409g of gold he had hidden in his rectum was seized. On Tuesday, a flyer from Singapore was secured for smuggling 150g of gold, and on Wednesday, another flyer from Dubai was caught with another 150g of gold.
New Indian Express
01-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Six exotic animals were trafficked from Bangkok seized at Kochi airport
KOCHI: In a major wildlife trafficking bust, the Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at Kochi airport on Monday intercepted two passengers who were found smuggling six exotic animals from Bangkok. The animals were concealed in their checked-in baggage. The rescued animals include three common marmosets, two white-lipped tamarins — both native to the Amazon rainforest — and a hyacinth macaw, a rare parrot species found in South America. Acting on a tip-off, the customs officers intercepted the duo at the airport's exit gate and carried out a detailed inspection of their luggage, which led to the discovery and seizure of the animals. Officials estimate the market value of the seized animals to be over `5 lakh. 'These animals are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, and their possession is strictly prohibited in India,' said a customs official. The passengers, along with the seized animals, were handed over to the forest department for further action. An official communication was also sent to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) regarding the incident. The forest department will register a case, after which the animals will be repatriated to Bangkok.
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
