Passenger held at Hyderabad airport for smuggling foreign wildlife

HYDERABAD: Customs officials at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) intercepted a passenger arriving from Bangkok on September 27, 2025, and seized several foreign animals concealed in his checked-in baggage.

Customs seize lizards, iguanas and rare turtle at RGIA

Officials recovered one monitor lizard, a two-headed red-eared slider turtle, four green iguanas and 12 iguanas during the baggage examination. These species are protected under Indian wildlife protection laws.

The seized animals were sent back to Bangkok. The passenger was arrested for attempting to smuggle the species into India.

Customs authorities said they are stepping up surveillance at airports to curb wildlife trafficking, which remains a serious conservation concern.