Mumbai, Oct 30 (PTI) Mumbai Customs seized two endangered silvery gibbons, one of which had died, at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) from a passenger coming from Bangkok, officials said on Thursday.

Based on specific intelligence, the passenger was intercepted on Wednesday, an official said.

"During baggage examination, we found two gibbons, one two-month-old and the other four-month-old, concealed in a basket inside a trolley bag. The passenger was arrested under the Customs Act and the Wildlife (Protection) Act," he said.

The silvery gibbon is native to Indonesia's Java island and is listed as "endangered" by the IUCN since less than 2,500 are left in the wild, he said.

"The fatality rate during air travel is higher for mammals. Even if they endure this travel and although the end customer of the syndicate may provide best facilities for these exotic pets, the survival rate of such species outside their indigenous habitat is very less," the official added.

In another operation, Customs arrested a passenger with 7.970 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (marijuana) worth Rs 7.97 crore. He had arrived here from Bangkok.

The narcotic substance was concealed inside the checked-in trolley bag of the passenger, the official said. PTI DC BNM

Wildlife trafficking: seizure of endangered silvery gibbons at airport led to arrest under customs and wildlife laws. Intelligence-led baggage inspection at an international airport uncovered concealed silvery gibbons-one deceased-inside a trolley bag; the passenger was arrested under the Customs Act and the Wildlife (Protection) Act, with officials noting high mortality and low survival prospects for such endangered mammals outside their native habitat. A separate operation seized concealed hydroponic marijuana from another arriving passenger, resulting in arrest and seizure under customs enforcement powers.