Customs Seize Eight Exotic Animals and Detain Two Passengers at Chennai Airport

Customs officials at Chennai airport have detained two passengers and seized eight exotic animals, three of which were dead, after they arrived on a flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on March 13, 2025. The seizure successfully prevented a potential illegal wildlife smuggling attempt through the airport.

The incident unfolded when customs sleuths intercepted the two flyers at the terminal. A search by the authorities revealed that the passengers were carrying a variety of rare and protected species, leading to their immediate detention and the confiscation of the animals.

According to airport officials, the seized wildlife included four Eastern Grey Gibbons. The Eastern Grey Gibbon is recognized as an endangered species and receives international protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Two of the four gibbons found in the passengers' possession were dead.

In addition to the endangered gibbons, customs officers recovered two marbled polecats and one silvery lutung. Both the marbled polecats and the silvery lutung are designated as having a vulnerable conservation status, which restricts their unauthorized transport.

The customs officers also recovered a Sumatran white-bearded palm civet. This animal was found dead, bringing the total number of deceased animals in the shipment to three.

The inclusion of the Eastern Grey Gibbons under CITES protections highlights the strict international regulations surrounding these endangered animals. The vulnerable conservation status of the marbled polecats and the silvery lutung further emphasizes the ecological sensitivity of the animals involved in the seizure.

The deaths of the three animals—two Eastern Grey Gibbons and the Sumatran white-bearded palm civet—underscore the critical nature of the unauthorized transit. The surviving animals were secured by airport and customs officials.

The two passengers who transported the animals from Malaysia remain held by the authorities. The investigation into the smuggling attempt is ongoing as customs sleuths continue to address the illegal transport of these endangered and vulnerable species.