No Monkey Business Allowed: Kempegowda Customs Thwart Smuggling of Endangered Species from Malaysia to Bengaluru
Customs officials carried out passenger profiling, leading to the discovery of the exotic animals crammed inside the smuggler’s luggage in suffocating conditions
Customs officials at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) pulled off a dramatic rescue on Sunday night, intercepting a passenger attempting to smuggle six endangered monkeys from Malaysia into India. Customs officials, acting on passenger profiling, identified 24-year-old Vinayagamoorthy Kotteswaran, a Tamil Nadu native arriving from Kuala Lumpur on Malaysian Airlines flight MH 192....
Customs officials at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) pulled off a dramatic rescue on Sunday night, intercepting a passenger attempting to smuggle six endangered monkeys from Malaysia into India.
Customs officials, acting on passenger profiling, identified 24-year-old Vinayagamoorthy Kotteswaran, a Tamil Nadu native arriving from Kuala Lumpur on Malaysian Airlines flight MH 192. Upon apprehension, Kotteswaran’s check-in luggage was found to contain four Siamang Gibbons and two Northern Pig-tailed Macaques, species listed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act and Appendix I and II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Read More: Absence of Recorded Reasonable Belief for Smuggling Case: CESTAT quashes Confiscation of Gold
The exotic monkey species were found crammed between chocolates and clothes, struggling in suffocating conditions. Preliminary investigations suggest that Kotteswaran was recruited by two Chennai-based traffickers operating from Malaysia, and was promised a mere ₹10,000 for successfully delivering the animals.
Authorities believe that the smuggling network deliberately avoided Chennai International Airport, following a March 7 customs crackdown, where both a wildlife smuggler and the receiver were arrested. Smugglers are now resorting to alternative routes like Bengaluru to escape heightened scrutiny.
Read More: Customs at Indira Gandhi International Airport Intercepts Exotic Wildlife Smuggling
Why Are These Monkeys So Valuable?
Siamang Gibbons, native to Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, are highly sought after in the illegal exotic pet trade due to their unique vocalizations and social nature. Meanwhile, Northern Pig-tailed Macaques, commonly found across Southeast Asia, are frequently targeted for biomedical research, as their reproductive systems closely resemble those of humans. The increasing demand for these species has fueled a thriving black market in India, making airports a hotspot for wildlife smuggling operations.
How Does the Supreme Court Shape Tax Laws? Discover Landmark Rulings!, Click here
Following the interception, the rescued monkeys were repatriated to Malaysia on Monday, with Indian authorities coordinating with wildlife protection agencies. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) will further assess the condition of the animals and determine the necessary rehabilitation process.
The apprehended individual remains in custody and authorities are investigating whether he has been involved in prior smuggling activities. If convicted, he could face hefty fines and imprisonment under India’s Wildlife Protection Act which strictly prohibits the trafficking of endangered species.
In December 2024, two individuals were caught stuffing Agile Gibbons into a trolley bag at KIA, while in November 2024, customs officials seized 40 rare reptiles and mammals, including tortoises, beaded lizards, and juvenile rhinoceros iguanas. Reports suggest that the Customs authorities are now intensifying security measures at Bengaluru airport to counteract this trend.
Support our journalism by subscribing to Taxscan premium. Follow us on Telegram for quick updates
