Exotic lizards seized at Hyderabad airport; two flyers booked

Two passengers arriving from Bangkok were intercepted at Hyderabad’s RGI Airport for smuggling live exotic reptiles. Customs officials seized four green keel-scaled lizards and ten girdle lizards during routine checks.

Hyderabad: The Customs Department officials caught two passengers who were carrying live exotic animals at Rajiv Gandhi International (RGI) Airport here on Wednesday. The officials seized four green keeled lizards and 10 girdle lizards.

The two individuals, Satish Babu Sarathi and Kannappan Saravanan Vishnu, arrived at the Hyderabad international airport on a flight from Bangkok. During checking at the check-in area, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the customs department found the creatures in their luggage.

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“These animals were examined by a wildlife team. Arrangements are made for their repatriation to Bangkok by flight,” said customs officials.

A case has been registered against Babu and Saravanan under various laws. Further investigation is underway.