MUMBAI (WJW) — Airport authorities in India are investigating after more than a dozen snakes were found and confiscated.
Mumbai Customs officials took to social media on Sunday, announcing that they thwarted “yet another wildlife smuggling attempt” at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
In the post, investigators said a passenger was found with 16 live snakes in his luggage, including garter snakes, rhino rat snakes, albino rat snakes, Kenyan sand boas and California kingsnakes.
The passenger, who officials said was returning from Thailand, was arrested.
According to reports from CBS News, these snakes are often involved in the pet trade because they are mostly non-venomous or have weak venom that doesn’t harm humans.
Last summer, customs agents in China arrested a passenger who reportedly had more than 100 live snakes in his pants at the border of China and Hong Kong.
In another case, a traveler was spotted by TSA agents at the Miami International Airport for trying to sneak a bag of snakes through security in May 2024.