Woman tries to smuggle 13 rare wildife species from Bangkok, held

An official said that on Thursday, based on specific intelligence, customs officers at the Mumbai International Airport intercepted a Thane-based woman arriving from Bangkok.

The passenger was carrying 66 corn snakes, 31 hognose snakes, 4 yellow anacondas, three yellow footed tortoises, two red footed tortoises, three albino snapping turtles, 26 armadillo lizards, two iguanas, four water monitor lizards, 11 bearded dragons and two raccoons.

Albino Snapping Turtle. (Express Photo)

“The wildlife species were concealed inside trolley bags carried by the passenger who was arrested under provisions of the Customs Act and Wildlife Protection Act,” an official said.

Bearded Dragon. (Express Photo)

An official said that flights coming from Bangkok are especially under the scanner as there is a high demand for these rare species that are available at cheaper rates there and are then sold at higher rates in India.

The official added that rare and exotic pets and hydroponic weed are two of the most smuggled items on the Bangkok-Mumbai route due to which they remain on high alert.