Man held with 10 anacondas in Bengaluru

Anacondas found generally in Paraguay, Bolivia,

They were found concealed in check-in baggage

In a startling incident at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, customs officials arrested a passenger attempting to smuggle 10 yellow anacondas concealed within his check-in baggage. The arrest transpired following the interception of the individual who had arrived from Bangkok. The Bengaluru Customs department, in a statement posted on social media platform X, asserted their commitment to combating wildlife trafficking, emphasizing a zero-tolerance stance on such illicit activities.

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Yellow anacondas, a riverine species primarily found in regions encompassing Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, northeastern Argentina, and northern Uruguay, were the subject of this smuggling attempt. This incident echoes a concerning trend, as just last year, customs officials at the same airport rescued 234 wild animals, including a baby kangaroo, allegedly smuggled from Bangkok. Tragically, the young kangaroo perished due to suffocation while confined in a plastic box.

Upon receiving a tip-off, customs officials conducted a thorough search of the suspect’s luggage, revealing an array of exotic animals including pythons, chameleons, iguanas, turtles, and alligators concealed within trolley bags. Several of these animals were listed in the appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), underscoring the gravity of the smuggling attempt.

The arrested individual now faces investigation and potential legal consequences as authorities strive to uphold wildlife protection laws and safeguard biodiversity against such egregious exploitation.