Mumbai: Drugs, gold and other expensive or illegal items are often seized from passengers during inspection at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, the country's financial capital. However, this time, customs officials seized as many as 48 poisonous snakes and 5 turtles from a passenger. Even the security guards were alarmed when it came to light that the passenger had been found with poisonous snakes. The passenger concerned had been to Thailand and had taken a flight from Bangkok on his way to India.
At Mumbai's airport, customs found 48 poisonous snakes and five turtles in a passenger's luggage arriving from Thailand during a nighttime inspection. Among the dangerous species were a spider-tailed horned viper and an Indonesian pit viper. The reptiles will be repatriated per the Wildlife Protection Act. The unidentified passenger faces legal action for violating wildlife laws.
According to the information received, 48 highly poisonous snakes and five turtles were found in an Indian passenger at Mumbai's international airport. Officials said that a passenger was stopped after suspicions were raised at night. During inspection, 48 highly poisonous viper snakes and 5 turtles were found in his bag.
A team from RAW (Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare) helped in identifying and managing these species. The snakes and turtles will then be sent back to their country of origin as per the Wildlife Protection Act. The security agencies have also registered a case against the passenger under relevant sections and appropriate legal action is being taken against him, the officials said.
Customs department shares photos Officials have seized various snakes and turtles, including a spider-tailed horned viper, an Asian leaf turtle and an Indonesian pit viper, from the passenger. All these reptiles, including 48 venomous vipers, were hidden in the passenger's checked-in baggage. These reptiles have been seized under various wildlife protection laws in India. The passenger's name has not been revealed yet and he has not commented as he is currently in customs custody.
Customs officials have shared photos of colorful snakes moving around in a dish on 'X' (formerly Twitter). Import of animals in India is not completely illegal, but the import of certain species is prohibited under the Wildlife Protection Act. Earlier, in November, customs officials arrested two travelers returning from Bangkok for bringing 12 exotic turtles.
