The cases involved narcotic substances and live exotic wildlife, within the span of three days, officials said on Tuesday. Pics/Mumbai Customs (Story/Samiullah Khan)
According to the customs department, on August 9, 2025, a passenger arriving from Bangkok at Mumbai airport was intercepted based on profiling. Upon checking his trolley bag, the customs officers discovered 2.873 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (marijuana), cleverly hidden within the baggage. The illicit drugs, valued at Rs 2.87 crores, were seized, and the passenger was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, officials said
While the alert officials kept a watch on suspicious passengers, on August 11, 2025, acting on specific intelligence, Mumbai Customs officers intercepted a passenger from Bangkok and made a shocking discovery – a large number of exotic live animals hidden in a dark grey trolley bag
The passenger was arrested under the Customs Act, 1962, in connection with the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, said the officials
Seized wildlife included, Meerkats, Common Blue Tongued Skink, Four Eyed Turtle, Red and Green Iguanas
The bag also contained various types of Tarantulas (including Pinktoe, Brachypelma, Antilles Pinktoe), Ceram Mangrove Monitor Lizards (3), etc
The back-to-back interceptions reflect the heightened vigilance of Mumbai Customs in preventing the smuggling, said an official
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