Mumbai, June 28, 2025 – Customs officials at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport apprehended a passenger arriving from Bangkok after discovering 16 live snakes hidden inside cotton pouches in his baggage. The arrest occurred on Friday night, following a routine inspection by Mumbai Customs Zone III officers .
Upon landing aboard Flight 6E1052, booked by an Indian national, authorities noted suspicious behavior and decided to inspect his belongings more thoroughly. The search revealed diverse species being smuggled in small cloth bags, carefully stashed among his clothes.
Exotic Species Discovered
The live reptiles included:
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2 Kenyan sand boas
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5 rhinoceros rat snakes
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3 albino snakes
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2 Honduran milk snakes
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1 California kingsnake
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2 garter snakes
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1 albino rat snake
Customs officials collaborated with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and experts from the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) to safely handle and identify the seized snakes under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act.
⚖️ Legal Action & Ongoing Investigation
The passenger was arrested under the Customs Act, 1962, and a panchanama—a formal inventory report—was drawn up on Saturday, June 28. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is currently coordinating the repatriation of the animals to their country of origin, to ensure compliance with wildlife protection laws.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the individual may be linked to a broader wildlife trafficking syndicate, which is now under investigation.India’s airports have become frequent targets for wildlife smugglers, often transporting exotic and endangered species from Southeast Asia. Covert methods—such as wrapping live reptiles in cloth or chocolate boxes—pose serious threats not only to the animals but also to biodiversity and public safety.
This arrest underscores the urgent need for enhanced surveillance, rigorous baggage inspections, and coordinated efforts between customs, wildlife authorities, and NGOs to counter the rising tide of illegal wildlife trade.
