Chennai: Officials of the Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) have seized 402 baby Iguanas, an exotic wildlife species, from a passenger who tried to smuggle it into India from Bangkok at the Anna International airport and arrested him.
However, 67 of them had died allegedly due to suffocation as they were concealed in carton boxes.
An official release said the AIU Officers intercepted a male passenger, Ateeq Ahmed, who arrived from Bangkok on the basis of an intelligence. On examination of his baggage, they found exotic Wildlife species concealed in carton boxes.
Immediately on recovery of the boxes containing wildlife animals, officials from Wildlife Crime Control Bureau at Chennai were informed. Wildlife Inspector, WCCB, Southern Region, Chennai, Doki Adimallaiah, on examination identified the Exotic Wildlife species as Baby Iguanas.
The seized species included Green Baby Iguana (229 Nos.), Orange Baby Iguana (113), Yellow Baby Iguana (7) and Blue Baby Iguana (53).
The Scientific Names are Iguana iguana(Green, Orange and Yellow), Cyclura lewisi (Blue Iguana).
Out of the total 402 Nos. of baby Iguanas, 67 were already found dead.
The dead baby Iguanas were incinerated with the help of Blue Cross Foundation .
The alive Baby Iguanas were hydrated and fed with vegetables on the advice of WCCB Officials.
All these mentioned species, covered under the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species (CITES), Appendix-I and Appendix-II under Schedule-IV Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 read with DGFT Import Policy, were seized under the Customs Act, 1962 read with the provisions of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
The Air Customs Officials treated the rescued exotic animals at the airport with utmost care with the help of WCCB Officials.
The live species were deported back to Bangkok after being certified.
Ateeq Ahamed, who attempted to smuggle the exotic species from Bangkok into India was arrested and produced before a Judge at Alandur Court who remanded him to judicial custody.
He was sent to Central Prison at Puzhal.
Further investigation is in progress to identify the person involved in the crime.