Exotic snake smuggling foiled: Man caught with 16 live reptiles in chocolate boxes

A man arriving from Bangkok was caught attempting to smuggle 16 live snakes, including exotic species like Kenyan sand boas and Honduran milk snakes, at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, officials said Saturday.

According to a PTI report, the passenger was intercepted by Customs officers late Friday night after arriving from the Thai capital.

Upon inspection, officials discovered cotton pouches hidden inside chocolate boxes and old clothes, containing a range of non-native snake species.

The seized reptiles included:

• 2 Kenyan sand boas

• 5 rhinoceros rat snakes

• 3 albino snakes

• 2 Honduran milk snakes

• 1 California kingsnake

• 2 garter snakes

• 1 albino rat snake

Officials grew suspicious after noticing the passenger behaving oddly while passing through the green channel, typically reserved for travelers with no goods to declare. A baggage check revealed the concealed reptiles.

According to Customs, the accused admitted he planned to sell the snakes on the grey market for a large sum, reportedly amounting to several lakhs of rupees.

Though the species involved are not listed under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), importing such exotic animals into India without proper documentation is illegal. The accused has confessed to smuggling the snakes for financial gain. An investigation is underway.