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Mumbai Airport Customs Officials Seize Drugs Worth Rs 8 Crore, Recover Endangered Silvery Gibbon Species

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Mumbai Airport Customs officials made two significant seizures in two separate cases, recovering an endangered Silvery Gibbon species and seizing drugs worth Rs 8 crore from a passenger. According to officials, the seizures were made on the basis of specific intelligence and intercepted passengers arriving from Bangkok to Mumbai. The Customs officers recovered two Silvery Gibbons, one live and one dead, which were concealed in a basket kept in the trolley bag of a passenger. The passenger was arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act and Wildlife Protection Act. In another case, a passenger was intercepted and 7.97 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (marijuana) was recovered, with an illicit market value of approximately Rs 8 crores.

Key Takeaways:

  • Two Silvery Gibbons, an endangered species, were recovered by Mumbai Airport Customs officials from a passenger arriving from Bangkok.
  • The Silvery Gibbon is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with less than 2,500 individuals remaining in the wild.
  • The illegal pet trade, hunting, habitat loss, and forest fragmentation pose significant threats to the survival of Silvery Gibbons.
  • The passenger was arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act and Wildlife Protection Act.
  • In another case, 7.97 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (marijuana) was recovered from a passenger, with an illicit market value of approximately Rs 8 crores.
  • The Customs officers used specific intelligence to intercept the passengers and make the seizures.
  • The seizures demonstrate the effectiveness of Customs officials in preventing the illegal trade of wildlife and narcotics.

Statistics:

  • Less than 2,500 Silvery Gibbons remain in the wild (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species).
  • 2550 Silvery Gibbons are surviving in the wild.
  • 1 live and 1 dead Silvery Gibbons were recovered by Customs officials.
  • 7.97 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (marijuana) was recovered.
  • Illicit market value of seized narcotics: approximately Rs 8 crores.

Sources:

  • Indian National Press (Bombay) Pvt. Ltd. - "Mumbai Airport Customs officials seize drugs worth Rs 8 crore, recover endangered Silvery Gibbon species".

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