College student held with smuggled reptiles at airport

The student, identified as Mohammad Abdul Majeed (22), was intercepted at the exit of the Customs arrival hall. As he was evasive while giving replies, his baggage was opened for further examination. On examination of a purple stroller bag, it was found to contain nine plastic containers along with some chocolates, gift items and personal clothing. The containers had the reptiles in them. When questioned, he admitted that he was supposed to handover the stroller bag to someone outside the airport. He was taken outside but no one turned up to receive the bag even after waiting for a considerable time.

The student had no required documents to carry animals. The animals were seized and they will be sent back to the airport in its place of origin, airport sources said. “Based on information that wild animals are likely to be smuggled from Thailand, the officers of Customs Air Intelligence Unit maintained a special alert and vigil at the arrival hall to identify and nab the smugglers. On Monday morning, AIU officers noticed a man moving in a suspicious manner after collecting his luggage,” a press release from Rajan Chaudhary, Commissioner of Customs, Chennai International Airport, Chennai, said.

Later, to identify the reptile species, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) officials were called and they identified one Horned Pit Viper (Cerastes cerastes), two Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta), three Rock Iguana (Cyclura Genus) and 22 Egyptian Tortoise.

A team of veterinary doctors was called from Arignar Anna Zoological Park, who checked the animals and found them to be in a healthy condition. The Animal Quarantine Officials recommended to send the wildlife species back to their country of origin as the passenger did not have NOC/ DGFT license for their import into India. The Horned Pit Viper is an African venomous snake and there is no anti-venom available in India for it. Egyptian Tortoise is a critically endangered species and is endemic to Egypt and Libya.