1-8-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Customs officials at Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) airport, located in southern India, made a significant wildlife seizure when they intercepted 47 pythons concealed in the baggage of an Indian national arriving from Kuala Lumpur. Alongside the pythons, the officials also discovered two lizards hidden among the passenger’s belongings.
The reptiles’ discovery led to immediate action under India’s customs and wildlife protection laws. As per local media reports on Monday, the seized pythons and lizards are set to be repatriated to Malaysia.
The male passenger, originating from Chennai, had arrived on a Batik Air flight on July 29. The customs officials’ vigilance thwarted the attempt to smuggle the exotic reptiles into the country, a common tactic used by wildlife smugglers to bring such creatures from South-East Asia to India.
This incident echoes a similar wildlife seizure at Chennai airport in April, where authorities uncovered 22 snakes in the baggage of a woman arriving from Kuala Lumpur. These occurrences highlight the ongoing challenge authorities face in combating illegal wildlife trafficking and preserving the country’s biodiversity.
