Chennai Customs Officials Seize 22 Exotic Animals from Passenger at Airport

In a shocking turn of events, customs officials at Chennai International Airport made a significant wildlife seizure, highlighting the ongoing battle against the illegal trade of exotic animals. On August 10, Mohamed Meera Sardharali, an Indian national arriving from Bangkok on a Thai Air Asia flight, was apprehended for attempting to smuggle a diverse collection of exotic species into the country.

The Air Intelligence Unit of the Customs department intercepted Sardharali, leading to the discovery of 22 rare and protected animals in his possession. Among the seized wildlife were some of the world’s most exotic and endangered species, including a Siamang Gibbon, two Sunda flying lemurs, five Indo-Chinese box turtles, nine four-eyed turtles, a Keeled box turtle, a Red-footed tortoise, two green tree pythons, and a white-lipped python.

Authorities have since arrested Sardharali, who has been remanded to judicial custody under the provisions of the Customs Act and the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The rescued animals, still alive, have been safely handed over to the airlines for deportation back to their place of origin.

This incident isn’t the first of its kind at Chennai Airport. Just last year, customs officials thwarted similar smuggling attempts, including the arrest of a man in November for transporting 36 exotic animal species and another incident in September where 16 exotic animals were seized.

PetNarianPets urges readers to stay informed about the dangers and legal consequences of wildlife smuggling, which continues to pose a serious threat to global biodiversity. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.