Mumbai Customs seized 28 live orange bearded dragons, two dead ones, and six white iguanas at the Mumbai international airport on Sunday night, exposing yet another instance of wildlife trafficking. According to sources from the forest department, a passenger arriving from Bangkok on an IndiGo flight was found carrying the reptiles hidden inside socks in his luggage. Officials grew suspicious after detecting unusual movement during baggage scanning.

A wildlife rescue team from RAWW (Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare) was called to assist with the identification, safe handling, and temporary care of the animals. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has initiated the process of deporting the live reptiles to the country from which they were trafficked, in accordance with the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).