- विज्ञापन -
In a shocking incident at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, an Indian man, who returned recently from Thailand was caught with a suspicious bag by the authorities, carrying 47 poisonous snakes and 5 rare turtles.
According to the reports, these were such snakes which are sold for lakhs in the black market. If they bite, then there is no anti-venom for them in India.
The incident took place on May 31 around 10 pm. The passenger landed via Thai Airways flight TG317 from Bangkok, Thailand.
As soon the passengers started offboarding, the authorities received intelligence that an Indian passenger was carrying a suspicious bag. After this, the passenger was caught.
The passenger panicked when questioned. Then the bag was checked and 5 turtles of rare species and 47 extremely poisonous snakes were found in it. One snake was dead.
On June 1, the Mumbai Customs Department shared a post on the social media platform ‘X’ and informed about the capture of snakes. The police have arrested the passenger under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and the Customs Act 1962. However, he has not been identified yet. At the same time, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau i.e. WCCB has ordered to send the seized snakes and turtles to their country of origin.
Types of Snakes Found in Bag Revealed and Their Danger Levels
Apart from 5 Asian leaf turtles, 3 spider-tailed horned vipers and 44 Indonesian pit vipers were found in the passenger’s bag.
However, these two species of snakes do not have a human bite history, that is, these snakes have not bitten any human till date. Due to this, it is not known how long it takes for a human to die due to their bite. Usually, a king cobra bite causes death within 30 minutes to 6 hours.
Apart from these, 5 Asian leaf turtles were also found, which are extremely rare. These turtles are found in South-East Asia. It is called leaf turtle because of its leaf-like colour and pattern. It is also listed in Appendix-II of CITES and Schedule-IV of Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
This turtle is not poisonous and does not pose any threat to humans, but due to its rarity, its smuggling is a threat to biodiversity.
When these snakes have no human bite history, then why were they being smuggled?
More profit with less risk: Wildlife smuggling is considered less risky than drug or arms smuggling, as the punishment provision is less. In many countries, it is not even considered a serious crime. In countries like Thailand and Indonesia, the penalty for smuggling is low.
In the international black market, the price of a spider-tailed horned viper can range from 4 to 12 lakh rupees. Whereas, the price of an Indonesian pit viper can range from 40 thousand to 2 lakh rupees. That means more profit with less risk.
Illegal trade helps organised crime: According to ‘The Farmer’ magazine, snake smuggling is a part of organised crime networks. That is, snake smuggling is used to raise money for buying weapons, money laundering and other illegal activities. Criminal syndicates in Australia sell native snakes and birds in the black market in Asia and buy weapons with this money.
These snakes are caught illegally from South-East Asia, South Africa and the Middle East. They are then sent to the markets of Europe, America and Asia, where their demand is high.
Keeping rare snakes as pets: Many hobbyists like to buy and keep rare and poisonous snakes. The rarer the snake, the higher its price. The price of snakes varies according to their species, venom and rarity.
In the black market, the red sand boa snake is sold for Rs 2 crore to Rs 25 crore, the two-headed Russell viper for Rs 1 crore and the rare Takshak snake for Rs 9 crore. Such snakes are preferred by rich people and their collectors.
Making luxury items from snake skin: Handbags, shoes and belts are also made from snake skin. The color of snake skin is unique. The things made from it are included in the luxury category and are sold very expensive in the market.
A bag of python skin was sold for around Rs 3.7 lakh in 2023. The bright green skin of the Indonesian pit viper caught in Mumbai is considered attractive in the fashion industry.
Apart from this, snakes are also smuggled to extract poison. Medicines and alcohol are made from snake poison. Apart from this, intoxicants are also made from snake poison.
How are medicines and alcohol made from snake venom?
Snake venom contains proteins, enzymes, peptides, and other bioactive compounds, making it valuable for producing medicines and alcohol. In India, venom is extracted from snakes like the cobra, krait, Russell’s viper, and saw-scaled viper at institutes such as Haffkine in Hyderabad and the Irula Snake Catchers Cooperative.
For medicinal use, the venom is dried, powdered, and processed to isolate useful compounds, which are then tested and used to create anti-venom, blood pressure drugs, cancer treatments, painkillers, and blood thinners. In alcohol production, a live or dead snake is placed in grain-based liquor, fermented, and consumed as a traditional tonic.
How does the snake venom market run across the world, including India?
The global snake venom trade operates through both legal and illegal channels, including in India. Legally, snake venom is used in the pharmaceutical industry to produce life-saving medicines. In countries like China, snakes are commercially bred—such as in Jisiqiao village—where their venom is harvested and sold to pharma companies. The value of venom varies widely: Cobra venom sells for ₹5,000 to ₹25,000 per gram, while a gallon (3.7 liters) of King Cobra venom can legally fetch up to ₹1.3 crore.
However, the black market significantly inflates these prices. In one notable case from February 2021, 1,814 grams (about 4 lbs) of venom being smuggled from Bangladesh to India was seized. Valued at ₹10,000 per gram in the legal market, it totaled around ₹1.81 crore, but experts estimate its black market value at up to ₹24 crore.
Exotic snakes are also trafficked. On platforms like Underground Reptiles, an Indonesian pet viper sells for $500 (₹43,000). At this rate, 43 such vipers seized at Mumbai airport would be worth ₹18.5 lakh legally—much higher when trafficked illicitly.
This dual trade highlights the urgent need for stricter regulations and enforcement to combat the illegal wildlife trade.
