Indian customs officers on Sunday (December 22nd) seized exotic animals at Chennai International Airport and detained one man suspected of smuggling the creatures from Thailand.

The species included kangaroo rats, prairie dogs, a red squirrel and a blue iguana.

Kangaroo rats „Prairie dogs, Red squirrel and Blue iguana seized by Customs at Chennai International Airport in southern India.

Kangaroo rats „Prairie dogs, Red squirrel and Blue iguana seized by Customs at Chennai International Airport. One detained. Based on information that wid animals are likely to be smuggled from Bangkok, Air Intelligence Unit(AIU) maintained a special alert and vigil to catch the smuggler On Sunday morning AIU officers noticed that one male passenger was moving in a rather suspicious manner in the arrival area. A close watch was kept on his movement and after he had collected his checked in luggage Le one red colour stroller bag, he started was walking in a rather hurried manner, He was intercepted at the exit The passengers wan identified as Mohamed Mohideen, 28, of Chennai who had arrived from Bangkok by Thai Airways flight TG337, On questioning he was evasive in his replies so his stroller bag was opened for further examination. On examination it was found to contain eight number of plastic containers and one small cardboard box concealed in choclates, gift items and personal clothing On opening the plastic containers and cardboard box some species of rodents and reptiles were found inside. On questioning he informed that the stroller bag was given to him by someone outside Bangkok airport with instructions to handover the same to some unknown person outside Chennai airport who would identity him by his photo He was taken outside the airport but no one turmed up to receive the same even after waiting for a considerable time To identify the wild species Wild life Crime Control Bureau(WCCB) officials were called. Three rodent and one reptile species were identified Rodent Species: 1) Banner Tailed Kangaroo Rats (Diopodomys Spectabilis ) Twelve numbers 2) Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus ) three numbers. Both native of North America 3) Red Squirrel ( Scurus species) one number, common throughout Eurasia. The rodents are neither listed under CITES nor Wild life protection Act. Reptile specie: Blue Iguana lizard (Cyclura lewisi) Five numbers. It is an endangered species of lizard endemic to island of Grand cayman. Iguanas are listed under CITES Appendix I. A team of Veterinary doctors were caled from Arignar Anna Zoological Park who inspected and found the animals to be in healthy condition The Animal Quarantine Officials recommended to deport the wild life species back to country of origin as the passenger did not have any NOC/ DGFT license for import into India. The wild life species were seized under the provisions of Customs Act 1962 read with FT (DAR) Act Passenger was detained. The seized rodents and lizard being exotic species will be sent back to Bangkok Further investigations are under progress RAJAN CHAUDHARY Commissioner of Customs Chennai Inernational Airport