The Mumbai Customs officers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI), under Mumbai Customs Zone-III, successfully detected and stopped three major smuggling attempts, involving narcotic substances and live exotic wildlife, within the span of three days, officials said on Tuesday.

According to the customs department, on August 9, 2025, a passenger arriving from Bangkok at Mumbai airport was intercepted based on profiling. Upon checking his trolley bag, the customs officers discovered 2.873 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (marijuana), cleverly hidden within the baggage.

“The illicit drugs, valued at Rs 2.87 crores, were seized, and the passenger was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985,” said officials.

In an another seizure, on the following day, August 10, another passenger from Bangkok was caught with 2.339 kg of suspected hydroponic marijuana, concealed in a similar manner. The market value of the recovered substance is estimated at Rs 2.33 crores. This passenger was also arrested under the NDPS Act.

While the alert officials kept a watch on suspicious passengers, on August 11, 2025, acting on specific intelligence, Mumbai Customs officers intercepted a passenger from Bangkok and made a shocking discovery – a large number of exotic live animals hidden in a dark grey trolley bag.

Seized wildlife included, Meerkats (3), Common Blue Tongued Skink (1), Four Eyed Turtle (1), Red and Green Iguanas (2), various types of Tarantulas (including Pinktoe, Brachypelma, Antilles Pinktoe), Ceram Mangrove Monitor Lizards (3), etc. 

“The passenger was arrested under the Customs Act, 1962, in connection with the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972,” said the officials.

The back-to-back interceptions reflect the heightened vigilance of Mumbai Customs in preventing the smuggling of prohibited substances and endangered species, thereby safeguarding public safety and biodiversity, an official statement said.

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