In a significant crackdown on wildlife smuggling, customs officials at Chennai International Airport in Tamil Nadu, India, seized 49 specimens from 12 species over two days. The first incident on April 3, 2023, involved a passenger arriving from Kuala Lumpur who was found with 34 exotic animals, including two Indonesian blue-tongued skinks, four albino Burmese pythons, and six cobras hidden in his luggage. The passenger, an Indian national, claimed he was promised money to deliver the contraband and was arrested under the Wildlife Protection Act. The animals were medically examined and confirmed healthy before being repatriated to Malaysia. The following day, customs officials discovered an unclaimed trolley bag containing 15 wildlife specimens, including gibbons and palm squirrels, linked to a passenger who fled after arriving from Bangkok. The seized animals were deported to Bangkok. Authorities suspect the resurgence of wildlife smuggling may be due to disruptions in gold smuggling operations from Gulf countries, prompting cartels to seek alternative illegal trades. Investigations are ongoing to trace the smuggling networks involved.