Passenger caught at Kempegowda International Airport trying to smuggle in rare primates

Bengaluru: Customs officials at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) foiled an attempt to illegally import two critically endangered primates — Red-shanked Douc — into India. The animals, endemic to the forests of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, were allegedly brought to Bengaluru by a passenger, Saleem Narladka, on Thai Airways flight.

According to the deportation order issued by KIA customs, the primates were imported without the mandatory no-objection certificate (NoC) or licence from Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), and without valid health certification documents. The animals arrived at KIA on Thai Airways flight TG-325 early Wednesday.

Based on the recommendation of Animal Quarantine and Certification Service (AQCS), customs officials ordered immediate deportation of the primates back to Bangkok at the cost of the importer.

The Red-shanked Douc, an Old World monkey species, is arboreal and typically measures 54 to 65 cm in body length, with a tail measuring between 65 and 85 cm

This is the third foiled attempt to smuggle Red-shanked Doucs into India this year. In Feb, customs officials at Kolkata airport seized two Doucs and booked a youth in connection with the case. In Nov, two more primates were intercepted at the same airport. However, one juvenile is said to have escaped then, prompting a search operation.

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