Mumbai Customs on Tuesday said that two passengers were held at the Mumbai airport for alleged wildlife smuggling after the officials seized exotic turtles from them.

In an official statement, the Mumbai Customs said that the officials at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI) intercepted two passengers arriving from Bangkok, uncovering a wildlife smuggling attempt involving 12 exotic turtles. The endangered reptiles were found hidden in a sophisticated manner, concealed inside rectangular plastic boxes buried beneath food packets in the passengers' trolley bags.