The officials said that the passengers were held at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and they seized both live and dead animals from them. Pics/Mumbai Customs
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
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