Bangkok gibbon smuggling busted at India’s Chennai Airport

Agents suspect rising black market demand driving repeat trafficking attempts

Chennai Airport has become the frontline in a bizarre wildlife trafficking saga after customs officers intercepted a passenger trying to smuggle two endangered gibbon monkeys from Bangkok — the second such brazen attempt in just two weeks.

The passenger, who arrived on a Thai Airways flight in the early hours of Tuesday, July 1, aroused suspicion among customs sleuths. When officers searched his trolley bag, they were stunned to find two pet carriers hidden beneath a stash of chocolates and packaged food.

“Inside were two live monkeys — one Agile Gibbon and one Eastern Grey Gibbon,” a customs official said. “They were concealed carefully, but we were able to detect them thanks to our profiling systems.”

The monkeys, highly sought after in the illegal exotic pet trade, were immediately seized, and India’s wildlife bureau was called in to identify the animals and ensure their care.

Bangkok gibbon smuggling busted at India's Chennai Airport | News by Thaiger
Stock image of two gibbon monkeys from iStock

Experts confirmed that both species are endangered, with the Agile Gibbon listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

The passenger, described by immigration officials as a “mere carrier” for an international smuggling syndicate, was placed in judicial custody while investigators worked to track down the masterminds behind the operation.

“It is no coincidence that the same two gibbon species were trafficked within a fortnight,” Chennai Airport Customs said. “There appears to be targeted demand for these animals.”

In a swift move to protect the gibbons’ welfare, officials arranged for their deportation back to Thailand on the same aircraft.

Bangkok gibbon smuggling busted at India's Chennai Airport | News by Thaiger
Photo of Chennai Airport courtesy of The Hindu

The gibbon drama wasn’t the only seizure making headlines this week. Customs officers also cracked down on a series of gold-smuggling attempts.

On Monday, June 30, a passenger travelling an elaborate route — Dubai to Dhaka, then Kolkata, before reaching Chennai — was caught with 409 grammes of gold hidden in his rectum.

Just days later, a flyer from Singapore was busted smuggling 150 grammes of gold, followed by another passenger from Dubai caught with a matching haul, reported the Times of India.

Customs officials say the incidents highlight how traffickers are constantly evolving their tactics, from using couriers to hiding contraband in shocking ways.

“This is a wake-up call,” one officer said. “Wildlife smuggling and gold trafficking are serious crimes, and we are committed to stopping them.”

Bangkok NewsCrime NewsThailand News

Follow The Thaiger on Google News:

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Watch this conversation
Notify of
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Originally from Hong Kong, Puntid moved to Bangkok in 2020 to pursue further studies in translation. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Hong Kong. Puntid spent 8 years living in Manchester, UK. Before joining The Thaiger, Puntid has been a freelance translator for 2 years. In her free time, she enjoys swimming and listening to music, as well as writing short fiction and poetry.
0
Comments are now open, have your sayx
()
x