Smuggler Caught Transporting Snakes on a Plane

The 2006 film Snakes on a Plane was a fictional attempt to show what sly reptiles are capable of when given the opportunity to fly aboard an aircraft. But in 2025, the basic premise of the film became a reality when the customs officials at t Mumbai Airport in India caught a passenger attempting to smuggle more than a dozen snakes into the country. 

While the incident may invite humorous comparisons to the classic Samuel L. Jackson film, it also showcases a growing and concerning trend of wildlife smuggling via commercial aviation. This is not the first time snakes have been discovered on board an aircraft. 

Photo Credits: The Scroll

On 29 June 2025, customs officials at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai were going about their usual duties when a passenger arriving from Thailand was found with 16 live snakes concealed in their luggage. Among the smuggled reptiles were a coastal banded California King snake and a Rhino Rat snake, along with several Garter snakes and a Kenyan Sand Boa. 

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) of India issued a short statement online regarding the incident: “Customs officers at CSMI Airport, Mumbai Customs Zone-III foiled yet another wildlife smuggling attempt. 16 live snakes (Garter, Rhino Rat, Albino Rat, Kenyan Sand Boa, CA King etc.) were seized from a passenger returning from Thailand. The passenger was arrested, and further investigation is underway.”