DRI seizes 45 live reptiles at Tiruchirappalli airport; two passengers arrested
Officials say 45 live reptiles concealed in 27 food packets were found in the baggage of two passengers arriving from Bangkok via Colombo on October 26.
AI-generated illustrative image. It does not show the actual October 26 incident at Tiruchirappalli airport.
Tiruchirappalli, October 28: Two Indian passengers have been arrested over an alleged attempt to bring 45 live reptiles into India through Tiruchirappalli International Airport.
The interception took place on October 26. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officers, working with the airport’s Air Intelligence Unit, examined the baggage of two passengers who arrived from Bangkok via Colombo.
What was recovered?
- 23 corn snakes
- 16 ball pythons
- 5 Argentine black and white tegus
- 1 snow white iguana
The official release says the animals were concealed in 27 food packets and were found sedated. The reptiles were seized, and the passengers were arrested under the Customs Act, 1962.
Image note: The featured image is an AI-generated illustration. It does not depict the actual October 26 incident at Tiruchirappalli airport.
Sources
- Press Information Bureau, Government of India — October 28, 2026, 11:03 a.m. IST
- Daily Thanthi — October 28, 2026, 9:13 a.m. IST
