'Threatened' Ball Pythons, Cornsnakes Smuggled From Bangkok Seized At Mumbai Airport

Customs officials seized 11 ball pythons and cornsnakes from a passenger's check-in luggage. The smuggler was arrested.

Image of the snakes that were recovered from the accused ( Image Source :LinkedIn/Arvind Kumar Chaurasia )

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) along with the Apex Intelligence & Investigation Agency of Indian Customs arrested a person at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Thursday for smuggling exotic wildlife. The passenger coming to Mumbai from Bangkok was carrying 11 ball pythons and cornsnakes in his check-in luggage, said the Additional Commissioner, Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes), Arvind Kumar Chaurasia in a LinkedIn post.

The exotic species were seized under the Customs Act 1962 and further investigation into the matter has been launched, as reported by news agency ANI.

Based on the intelligence received, the officers of DRI, Mumbai Zonal Unit, intercepted a person who arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai from Bangkok on December 21.

Upon examination of the check-in luggage of the said passenger, 9 ball pythons… pic.twitter.com/gFCNwX5o2S

— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2023

Ball Python, or Python regius, was included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of 'Threatened Species' in 2020. Python regius is listed as 'Near Threatened' under criteria A2d+3d+4d.

Earlier in August, six exotic palm cockatoos, also known as goliath cockatoos or great black cockatoos, were rescued by Assam Police from the Cachar district. A vehicle was intercepted at a 'naka' check from which these exotic birds were rescued. The smugglers managed to escape. The police handed over the birds to the forest department where they received treatment. 

Cachar Superintendent of Police (SP) Numal Mahatta earlier told ABP Live that efforts were underway to nab the smugglers. Mahatta added that the racket had international links. The Cachar SP said, "Our patrolling team noticed a vehicle with suspicious movement at a remote location in Dholai Khal. While approaching the vehicle, the occupants fled and we recovered the birds. The recovery was made along the Assam Mizoram inter-state border. We have sought the help of the Mizoram police as the recovery was made in the bordering area with the state. Similar recoveries were made by the Mizoram police in Kolasib district of the state in the past."