Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 09 February 2025
Customs officials at Veer Savarkar International Airport in Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) intercepted several infant monkeys hidden in the luggage of two passengers arriving from Kuala Lumpur on 08th February 2025. According to sources, eight monkeys were rescued, though official confirmation from authorities is still awaited.
According to sources, the rescued monkeys were handed over to officials from the Department of Environment and Forest, Andaman and Nicobar Administration. However, no information has been released regarding the species of the monkeys or the action taken against the passengers.
Nicobar Times contacted the DCF-I Wildlife Helpline, which provided the number of an official familiar with the case. However, the official refused to share any information, citing a lack of authorization.
Wildlife trafficking incidents have been reported at airports across India. It is not uncommon for exotic wildlife to be found in passenger luggage. On October 13, 2024, Chennai airport customs officials intercepted a similar attempt to smuggle infant monkeys from Malaysia to Chennai.
On December 28, 2024, CISF officials at Veer Savarkar International Airport seized smuggled gold from a passenger traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Chennai via Sri Vijaya Puram.
AirAsia operates flights between Kuala Lumpur and Sri Vijaya Puram every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Trafficking of exotic wildlife species is driven by the rising demand for exotic pets in India. The authorities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are yet to release a statement on the case or information regarding the action taken against the individuals involved.