Picture of Chennai Airport courtesy of The Hindu via The Thaiger

 

Chennai Airport has emerged as a hotspot in a baffling wildlife trafficking plot, as customs officers apprehended a passenger attempting to smuggle two endangered gibbons from Bangkok. This marks the second attempt in just two weeks, raising alarms over a possible surge in black market demand.

 

The passenger landed on a Thai Airways flight early on Tuesday, 1st July. Customs officials, suspicious of his movements, decided to inspect his luggage. A shocking discovery awaited them: two live gibbons concealed in pet carriers, hidden under layers of chocolates and packaged foods.

 

"In one carrier, we found an Agile Gibbon, and in another, an Eastern Grey Gibbon," revealed a customs officer. "Despite the careful concealment, our profiling systems proved effective in uncovering them." These species are highly coveted in the illegal exotic pet market, prompting immediate action from India’s wildlife bureau, which stepped in to confirm their identity and ensure their safety.

 

The Agile Gibbon, a victim of habitat loss and poaching, holds an endangered status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The Eastern Grey Gibbon faces similar threats, making their capture especially concerning for conservationists.

 

The suspect, believed to be a minor player in a sophisticated international smuggling ring, is now in judicial custody. Investigators are diligently working to unearth the bigger network orchestrating these crimes. "This repeated targeting of the same gibbon species in a short span hints at a burgeoning, specialised demand," a customs spokesperson stated.

 

India has seen a spike in wildlife trafficking cases, with stringent measures being put in place at major airports to combat this illicit trade. Such trafficking not only endangers species but also breaches international conventions aimed at protecting wildlife.

 

As authorities tighten their nets around the perpetrators, the case underscores a dire need for global cooperation to curb wildlife trafficking. Legal frameworks and enforcement must be strengthened to deter such exploits, which pose a grave threat to biodiversity.

 

The recent arrest in Chennai highlights a larger, more disturbing trend in the illegal wildlife trade. While this operation was foiled, experts caution that the underworld market for exotic pets remains robust.

 

Immigration and customs officials are keen on sending a strong message to deter future attempts.

 

Meanwhile, both the Agile Gibbon and the Eastern Grey Gibbon wait in the care of wildlife authorities, a grim testament to the ongoing battle against wildlife crime.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-05

 

 

It's been reported that possible, kidnapping charges may follow.

 

The big question is how through got through BKK security

This must have been smuggled out of Bangkok with the collusion of somebody working there.

 

The second species is native to Borneo so was smuggled from there or was bred in captivity, the former being far more likely.

9 hours ago, webfact said:

The passenger landed on a Thai Airways flight early on Tuesday, 1st July. Customs officials, suspicious of his movements, decided to inspect his luggage. A shocking discovery awaited them: two live gibbons concealed in pet carriers, hidden under layers of chocolates and packaged foods.

Managed to evade Thai screening ?

How much departing checked luggage gets scanned.

Not much of late is a safe bet

Again just ease on thru BKK security and customs.  

On 7/5/2025 at 8:02 AM, JoePai said:

The big question is how through got through BKK security

Maybe they just walked through, and security just thought they were a couple of the usual tourist knuckle draggers leaving for home? 😜

Sorry, but two live gibbons in pet carriers... and BBK customs missed them. Sounds like a legit oversight... not. I would imagine that they would make a lot of noise etc., WTF. Customs must have been bribed to look the other way as otherwise that's just ridiculous. Next one will be a Rhino found in a shipping container from Thailand at JFK Airport US and US customs is stunned that Thai customs missed it.