Mumbai Customs rescue exotic animals including iguanas, sugar gliders, one held

The Mumbai Customs on Monday said that it has rescued exotic animals including iguanas, sugar gliders and tortoise at city airport and arrested a passenger for illegally smuggling the animals.

An official statement said that the officials from Mumbai Customs Zone-III intercepted an Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport in Mumbai on June 9, 2025.

The passenger, who had travelled on flight AI338, was found carrying a number of live and dead exotic animals in his luggage.

The customs officials were suspicious after the passenger appeared to be nervous during his questioning and a detailed baggage check led to the shocking discovery of multiple protected and non-native species, some of which are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the statement said.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is an international agreement that regulates international trade in endangered species of wild animals and plants.

The statement said that multiple animals and birds were found in his baggage. It included the following- 

– Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula (1) – Not listed in CITES

– Tarantula (Brachypelma spp.) (1) – CITES Appendix II & Schedule IV

– Iguanas (Iguana spp.) (80 – 50 live, 30 dead) – CITES Appendix II & Schedule IV

– Leucistic Sugar Gliders (6) – Not listed in CITES

– Fire‑Tailed Sunbird (1 dead) – Wildlife Protection Act Schedule I

– Purple Throated Sunbird (1 dead) – Not listed in CITES

– Crested Finchbill Birds (2) – Not listed in CITES

– Honey Bear (Potos flavus) (1) – CITES Appendix III

– Brazilian Cherry Head Tortoises (2) – CITES Appendix II & Schedule IV

“All the animals were seized under official documentation (Panchanama) and the passenger was arrested under the Customs Act, 1962,” officials said, adding that a detailed investigation is underway to determine the source, motive, and possible links to wildlife smuggling networks.

Source