Wildlife and Drug smuggling foiled by Mumbai customs at CSMI Airport

Mumbai Customs officials at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport CSMIA seized endangered wildlife and narcotic substances in two separate operations conducted between October 29 and 30In the first case acting on specific intelligence officers intercepted a passenger arriving from Bangkok on flight AI2338 A search of the passengerrsquos baggage led to the recovery of two Silvery Gibbons Hylobates moloch one alive and one deceased concealed in a basket hidden inside a trolley bagThe passenger was arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act 1962 read with the Wildlife Protection Act 1972The Silvery Gibbon an endangered species native to Indonesiarsquos Java island is listed as ldquoEndangeredrdquo on the IUCN Red List with fewer than 2500 individuals remaining in the wild Customs officials said the gibbons aged about two and four months were likely victims of illegal wildlife trafficking One of the infants did not survive the ordeal of air travel due to the cramped and inhumane conditions of concealment Authorities emphasised the urgent need to raise awareness about the cruelty and ecological impact of smuggling exotic wildlife for the pet tradeIn a separate incident a passenger arriving from Bangkok on flight 6E1060 was handed over by the Bureau of Immigration to the Air Intelligence Unit AIU of Mumbai Customs A detailed examination of the passengerrsquos baggage revealed 797 kilograms of suspected hydroponic weed marijuana valued at approximately Rs 797 crore in the illicit market The narcotics were concealed inside a trolley bag and the passenger was arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS Act 1985Mumbai Customs ZoneIII officials said both cases highlight their continued vigilance and commitment to curbing illegal wildlife trafficking and narcotics smuggling through the cityrsquos international airportMumbai customs dept seizes hydroponic weed electronic goods worth Rs 1297 cr in 4 days 9 passengers heldThe Customs Department seized hydroponic weed worth Rs 124 crore at the Mumbai international airport from three separate groups of passengers arriving from Bangkok over a period of four days and arrested six of them officials said on WednesdayThe operation was conducted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport CSMIA between Saturday to Tuesday during which it also seized electronic items worth more than Rs 56 lakh and arrested three other passengers from Sharjah they saidActing on specific intelligence inputs officers of Mumbai Customs Zone III intercepted three separate groups of passengers from Bangkok Searches of their baggage led to the recovery of a total of 12418 kg of suspected hydroponic weed marijuana valued at about Rs 12418 crore an official saidThe narcotics were concealed inside the trolley bags carried by the passengers A total of six passengers were arrested in three separate cases under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS Act 1985 he said