Tiruchirappalli, Dec. 8 -- In a major wildlife smuggling bust, Trichy Customs arrested a passenger with 48 rare exotic animals hidden in check-in baggage.

Based on specific intelligence inputs, Trichy Customs officials intercepted a male passenger who arrived from Kuala Lumpur at Tiruchirappalli International Airport on December 8, 2025, by AirAsia flight AK-25, according to the release.

During the examination of the passenger's two check-in bags, officers recovered a large number of exotic wildlife species that were concealed inside plastic containers and small bags.

The seized animals included 32 Albino Red-Eared Slider Turtles, 3 Albino Raccoons, and 13 Green Iguanas, of which one iguana was found dead, as stated in the release.

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