The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs at Mumbai Airport arrested two passengers on charges of smuggling with four endangered hornbills hidden in their luggage. According to officials, the accused tried to smuggle the birds.
The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Customs Department has arrested two passengers, including a woman. A customs official told PTI that a flight from Thailand arrived at the Mumbai International Airport on Monday afternoon. Two of the passengers hid endangered hornbills in their luggage.
Authorities took action against the birds after they were found in the luggage of two passengers. An AIU official said the two passengers, a man and a woman from Mumbai, arrived at Mumbai airport from Bangkok on an Air India flight. When their luggage was searched, four hornbills were found hidden inside.
A forest official said on the matter that all four hornbills are highly endangered species in Visayas and Sulawesi. He told us that the hornbills were in a plastic container filled with chocolates.
Forest officials said the birds were still alive when they were found. After being rescued, his condition was stable. They were provided with water and food after consultation with wildlife experts associated with RaceQuink (RAWW), an organization dedicated to wildlife welfare. According to him, since the birds are not native to India, they were sent back to Bangkok through proper procedures.
Forest officials said the birds were returned to Bangkok after the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) issued an order to repatriate the birds to their country of origin under provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
Under the Act, any exotic animals seized as part of illegal trafficking must be returned to the country of origin or the country from which they were smuggled.
