Bengaluru
In a shocking revelation, a major wildlife smuggling attempt was thwarted at Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL) as officials from Seema Customs (Customs) apprehended an individual attempting to smuggle 234 wild animals in his luggage. The accused, who arrived at KIAL on a flight from Bangkok, was found to be transporting an array of exotic creatures, including pythons, chameleons, turtles, crocodiles, and even kangaroo cubs. The animals were concealed within bags, some of which contained small holes to allow for breathing. The customs officials made the startling discovery as they inspected the man’s bags at the exit gate of the airport. To their astonishment, they uncovered a large number of endangered wildlife species listed under the Convention on International Trade (CITES). The detained individual now faces charges under Section 104 of the Border Customs Act. He has been taken into custody, and authorities are conducting further interrogations to unravel the full extent of the operation. In a related development, authorities also discovered another bag left at the airport premises, which contained more wild animals. These creatures have also been safely rescued as part of the ongoing operation. The incident has shed light on the alarming issue of wildlife smuggling and the need for stringent measures to curb such illicit activities.
