According to the Mumbai Customs, a passenger arriving from Bangkok was intercepted based on specific intelligence. Upon checking a cream-coloured trolley bag, the custom officers found -- 3 Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) – 2 alive, 1 dead and 1 Great Billed Parrot / Moluccan Parrot (Tanygnathus megalorynchos) – alive
The cases were booked under the Customs Act, 1962, read along with the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for illegal possession and smuggling of protected species. Pic/Mumbai Customs
Mumbai Customs officials on Friday said that they rescued protected wildlife species which were allegedly smuggled by passengers who arrived Bangkok in Thailand and arrested two people in connection with the matter.
The officials said that the passengers were held at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and they seized both live and dead animals from them.
The wildlife species were being smuggled into the country. The operation took place during the night duty of July 10 and July 11 July, 2025, under the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III, an official said.
The cases were booked under the Customs Act, 1962, read along with the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for illegal possession and smuggling of protected species.
According to the Mumbai Customs, a passenger arriving from Bangkok was intercepted based on specific intelligence. Upon checking a cream-coloured trolley bag, the custom officers found -- 3 Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) – 2 alive, 1 dead and 1 Great Billed Parrot / Moluccan Parrot (Tanygnathus megalorynchos) – alive. The passenger was arrested, and the wildlife was seized.
In a separate incident, another passenger from Bangkok was caught with -- 2 Sumatran Striped Rabbits (Nesolagus netscheri) – alive, 1 Great Billed Parrot (Tanygnathus megalorynchos) – dead and 1 Indochinese Box Turtle (Cuora galbinifrons) – alive.
"These were found hidden in a green-coloured trolley bag. The second passenger was also arrested and legal proceedings have been initiated," said an official.
The rescued live animals were later handed over to wildlife authorities for care and further action, the official said.
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