Woman arrested in Chennai airport for carrying 22 snakes in bag. Video

Chennai Customs Twitter confirmed the news of the woman's arrest. (Photo credit: https://twitter.com/ChennaiCustoms).

A woman passenger was arrested at the Chennai airport on Friday after she was found traveling with 22 snakes of different species which were found on her arrival from Kuala Lumpur.

The snakes were stored in many plastic containers in her check-in luggage. Additionally, a chameleon was also seized from her baggage.

On 28.04.23, a female pax who arrived from Kuala Lumpur by Flight No. AK13 was intercepted by Chennai Airport Customs.
On examination of her checked-in baggage, 22 Snakes of various species and a Chameleon were found & seized under the Customs Act pic.twitter.com/pInXiccWRv

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— Gautam Kumar Mishra (@gkmishra79) April 29, 2023

"On 28.04.23, a female pax who arrived from Kuala Lumpur by Flight No. AK13 was intercepted by Customs. On examination of her checked-in baggage, 22 Snakes of various species and a Chameleon were found & seized under the Customs Act, 1962 r/w Wildlife Protection act, 1972," they said on Twitter.

On 28.04.23, a female pax who arrived from Kuala Lumpur by Flight No. AK13 was intercepted by Customs.
On examination of her checked-in baggage, 22 Snakes of various species and a Chameleon were found & seized under the Customs Act, 1962 r/w Wildlife Protection act, 1972 pic.twitter.com/uP5zSYyrLS

— Chennai Customs (@ChennaiCustoms) April 29, 2023

Sources told IANS that these species were priced higher in the grey market and were smuggled into other parts of South India. In a few cases, the species are also sent to few parts of North India such as Delhi, Lucknow and Jaipur.