Slithery surprise: Indian caught smuggling live snakes into Mumbai
16 live reptiles wrapped in cotton bags as customs swoop on wildlife traffickers
An Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok was arrested at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on June 27 after customs officers uncovered a shocking stash of 16 live snakes concealed in his luggage. Yes, you read that right—live snakes! It’s a case that’s leaving everyone wondering: what exactly was he trying to scale his way through?
The incident unfolded when the Indian national, flying on Flight 6E1052, raised suspicions during routine questioning after he appeared unusually nervous. This prompted a thorough inspection of his baggage.
Officers were in for a wild surprise when they found cotton bags containing several species of live snakes, including:
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Two Kenyan Sand Boas (Gongylophis colubrinus)
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Five Rhinoceros Rat Snakes (Gonyosoma boulengeri)
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One Albino Rat Snake (Pantherophis guttatus)
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Two Garter Snakes (Thamnophis spp.)
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One Coastal Banded California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae)
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Five Albino Honduran Milk Snakes (Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis)
The slithery stash was promptly seized as per the Wildlife Protection Act, and a ‘panchanama’ was drawn the following day. The passenger now faces charges under the Customs Act, 1962, as authorities dig deeper into the case, reported India Today.
Experts from the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) assisted officials in identifying and handling the snakes, which will soon be repatriated to their country of origin, with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau working alongside customs to ensure all wildlife laws are followed.
This discovery follows a string of troubling wildlife trafficking incidents. Only the week before, Indian customs officials intercepted another smuggler attempting to sneak in venomous snakes and turtles from Thailand, underscoring the alarming rise in the illegal trade of exotic animals.
The suspect, an Indian national, was apprehended after immigration officials found several rare spider-tailed horned vipers, a deadly species first described by scientists in 2006 and currently listed as “near-threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
As the investigation continues, it’s clear that animal traffickers are increasingly trying to ‘slither’ past airport security—though thankfully, customs is on the hunt.
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