KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian woman was caught trying to smuggle wildlife into Chennai, India, after officers found gibbons and iguanas in her possession.
It was reported by an online portal that the woman tried to smuggle the wildlife comprising four gibbons and 52 iguanas in her luggage from Kuala Lumpur to Chennai on Oct 13.
The Chennai Customs Department said in a statement that the woman was intercepted by Air Intelligence Officers at the Anna International Airport in Chennai.
The woman and the alleged recipient of the wildlife were arrested and are currently under remand, said Chennai Customs principal commissioner Manayathara Mathew Jolly.
"Both the passenger and the receiver were arrested under the Customs Act and Wildlife Protection Act, 1962 and were remanded to judicial custody.
"The exotic wildlife species were identified and certified as four Siamang gibbons (an endangered species) and 52 Green iguanas.
"The seized animals are protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
“They were properly fed with food and water as per the advice of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau authorities and were deported to their country of origin (Malaysia).
Further investigation is under progress,” he was quoted as saying.
He said it is believed that the animals were brought in to fuel the huge exotic species pet trade in the country.
"Further investigation is ongoing," he added.
