Another smuggler from KL caught with wildlife in suitcase at India airport

Summary

• Customs authorities arrest a 24-year-old Indian man at Bengaluru airport on Monday and found four siamang gibbons along with two northern pig-tailed Macaque inside his check-in luggage.

• He is believed to have been hired by several Indian nationals in Malaysia to smuggle the wildlife animals.

• It is believed the syndicate has shifted their entry airport from Chennai to Bengaluru to evade authorities.

An Indian national travelling from Malaysia to India was arrested at the Bengaluru International Airport in India on Monday for smuggling four baby siamang gibbons and two baby northern pig-tailed macaques in his cabin luggage.

Authorities arrested Vinayagamoorthy Kotteswaran, 24, a resident of MMDA Mathur in Chennai upon his arrival at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, The New Indian Express reported.

He had flown aboard the Malaysia Airlines flight from KLIA.

Checks by the Bengaluru Air Customs authorities found the six baby monkeys stuffed inside his check-in luggage.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the smuggler was hired by two Chennai natives living in Malaysia to transport the wildlife animals into India with a payment of RM518 (10,000 rupees).

It is revealed that the smuggling syndicate has started avoiding using the Chennai International Airport as Indian Customs has started arresting not just the smuggler but also the receiver of the wildlife animals following a similar seizure on March 7.

The rescued animals were handed to the Indian Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).

Wildlife smuggling cases

On March 7, two airline passengers were arrested at Anna International Airport, Chennai, India, after trying to smuggle primates, a civet cat, and two polecats in suitcases from KLIA’s Terminal 1.

The incident happened on the same day Natural Resources and Environment Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad inspected KLIA’s Terminal 2 on wildlife trafficking enforcement, following a wave of busts by foreign authorities.

According to the Chennai Customs Department, two Eastern grey gibbons and one Sumatran white beard palm civet died during the journey, while the other five animals survived.

They included one silver lutung, two marbled polecats, and two Eastern grey gibbons, said Chennai International Airport’s Customs Principal Commissioner Ramanav Srinivasa Naik.

According to Indian authorities, in 2023, there were eight cases of wildlife seizures involving flights from KLIA and KLIA2. The figure rose to 12 in 2024.

Minister’s warning

On March 13, Transport Minister Anthony Loke reprimanded Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) over rising cases of wildlife smuggling out of the country.

He admitted it is a serious issue and wants immediate action by the airport operator.

Following that, on March 18, MAHB reaffirmed its commitment to tackling wildlife smuggling at KLIA through tighter security measures and closer cooperation with enforcement agencies.

As KLIA’s operator, MAHB, said its aviation security team remains focused on preventing illegal activities that could threaten passenger safety and air transport.

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