Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Indian customs officers at Mumbai airport have thwarted yet another attempt to smuggle live snakes into the country, marking the third such interception this month. The passenger, arriving from Thailand, was found with a wriggling cargo of 16 live snakes hidden in their luggage.

 

Customs officials reported the seizure, noting that the reptiles included species popular in the pet trade such as garter snakes, a rhino rat snake, and a Kenyan sand boa. These snakes are largely non-venomous, with some possessing venom too weak to pose a threat to humans.

 

The passenger was arrested upon arrival on Sunday, and the customs agency confirmed that a detailed investigation is underway to uncover more about the smuggling operation.

 

This incident follows closely on the heels of earlier seizures in June where customs officials halted a traveller attempting to bring in dozens of venomous vipers from Thailand. Only days later, another passenger was stopped with a cargo of 100 exotic creatures, including lizards, sunbirds, and tree-climbing possums.

 

TRAFFIC, an organisation dedicated to monitoring and combating wildlife trade, expressed serious concern about the increasing trend of smuggling along the Thailand-India air route. They highlighted that over 7,000 animals, both dead and alive, have been confiscated over the past three and a half years.

 

The rise in wildlife smuggling is attributed to the exotic pet trade, which continues to fuel demand for rare and unusual species. Indian authorities are on high alert to tackle this illegal trade, reinforcing their commitment to preserve biodiversity and protect wildlife.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-30

 

 

So it goes right by the Thai customs officials.

 

Seems they don't care much taking things out of Thailand like

wildlife and weed.

 

Maybe time to rewatch : Snakes on a Plane

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417148/

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The passenger was arrested upon arrival on Sunday, and the customs agency confirmed that a detailed investigation is underway to uncover more about the smuggling operation.

Or why it wasn't detected in Thailand during screening ?

I would like to know, what happens to the liberated illegal captive creatures? Released into the wild? Returned to country of origin? Imprisoned in a zoo? Killed and cremated?

On 7/1/2025 at 4:00 AM, Grusa said:

I would like to know, what happens to the liberated illegal captive creatures? Released into the wild? Returned to country of origin? Imprisoned in a zoo? Killed and cremated?

Eaten? 

It was a man who was wearing budgie smugglers. It aroused something in one of the immigration officers and the snakes were found upon closer inspection.