Hyderabad, Sep 28 (PTI) Customs officials at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) here arrested a passenger and rescued several exotic wildlife species, including a Monitor Lizard, a turtle and Iguanas.

The passenger who arrived from Bangkok was intercepted on September 27 by officials at the airport.

During the examination of the baggage, one Monitor Lizard, one 2-headed red ear slider turtle, four green Iguanas and twelve Iguanas, wildlife species protected under wildlife protection laws, were found concealed in the checked-in baggage, a release from Customs department said on Sunday.

The wildlife species were recovered and deported back to Bangkok. The passenger was arrested, the release added. PTI VVK VVK ROH

Customs seizure of protected wildlife at airport leads to arrest and deportation of concealed exotic species. Customs officials intercepted checked baggage arriving from an international origin that contained multiple exotic animals protected under wildlife protection laws; they seized the specimens, deported them back to the origin, and arrested the passenger found with the concealed wildlife, invoking customs seizure powers and cross border enforcement protocols.