Customs intercept exotic spiders smuggled from Bangkok at Bengaluru airport
Customs officials at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport intercepted an Indian national smuggling exotic spiders from Bangkok. The suspect was allegedly acting as a mule for an international wildlife trafficking syndicate.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing challenges of wildlife trafficking and the role of international airports as transit points for illegal trade.
Customs officials at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) allegedly intercepted an international passenger carrying a wide variety of spider species allegedly smuggled inside his checked-in luggage from Bangkok on Saturday night.
The passenger, identified as Yaashar Samiullah Sheriff Umera Banu, an Indian national, arrived at Terminal 2 of KIA from Bangkok on an AirAsia flight, which landed around 10.15 p.m. on Saturday.
During baggage checks, Customs officials allegedly detected the concealed spiders inside the passenger’s checked-in luggage and detained him for questioning.
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