Air customs officials arrested a passenger for smuggling exotic pets, including ball pythons, marmosets, golden-handed tamarins and woodland dormouse, out of Bangkok.
When the luggage was unpacked, fifteen woodland dormice, two common tamarins and one golden-handed tamarin were found dead.
He was intercepted on arrival from Bangkok on suspicion of carrying contraband. An inspection of his luggage revealed that he had hidden the exotic animals in custom-made packages. The animals are popular in the pet trade.
Of the 26 woodland mice, 11 are still alive. Officials say all species except the woodland dormouse are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Upon receiving the information, officials from the Regional Wildlife Crime Control Bureau rushed to the airport and provided appropriate food for the animals. The dead animals were safely disposed of and the rest were returned to Bangkok.
Gurusamy was taken to court, where the judge found him guilty of a cognizable offense and remanded him in custody. He is being held at Puzhar Central Prison. Customs officials said that people accused of wildlife trafficking have been in judicial custody in the past. Further investigation is underway to determine whether Sudhakar brought the species to feed the city’s illegal exotic pet trade or whether he planned to transport them to other states.
