Authorities reportedly caught a passenger smuggling 16 live snakes in their luggage at an airport in India.
According to a social media post by Mumbai Customs, the incident occurred at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI). The post says, “Customs officers at CSMI Airport, Mumbai Customs Zone-III foiled yet another wild life smuggling attempt.” Among the 16 live snakes were an Albino Rat Snake, Rinoceros Rat Snake, Kenyan Boa, and a Coastal Banded Californian King Snake. The passenger transporting the animals was reportedly traveling from Thailand. Authorities arrested them at the airport.
Per CBS News, Customs officers are more used to passengers attempting to smuggle gold, cash, or drugs into the country. However, the outlet points out that wildlife trafficking is on the rise. CBS also cites two recent incidents to support this claim. Customs officers caught another customer traveling from Thailand with venomous snakes in their luggage in June.
There was also reportedly another similar incident days later, where authorities caught a passenger with almost 100 creatures. They were also travelling from Thailand. This passenger reportedly had lizards, sunbirds, and possums in their luggage. They also had a pair of tarantulas. Customs officers requested a closer look after the passenger “exhibited signs of nervousness” at the airport.
Passengers Don’t Just Attempt To Smuggle Snakes
Animal smuggling attempts aren’t relegated to reptiles and small creatures. The outlet reveals that authorities in Mumbai caught a passenger transporting five Siamang Gibbons in February. Customs officers noted the ingenuity of the attempt and how sophisticated the concealment was.
The customs section of an airport can be nerve-wracking, even if you’re a legitimate passenger. Last month, a travel influencer shared a story about how she was almost fined $800 for failing to declare an apple. Dina, who has a TikTok channel, Discover with Dina, says that a K9 unit approached her at the luggage carousel. That’s when she realized she had an apple on her from Amsterdam.
Dina escaped with a slap on the wrist, but the customs officer still explained the potential penalties. Authorities could have fined her $300 for the apple. Dina also has Global Entry, which means she’s held to a higher standard with the potential of a $500 separate fine.