Venomous snakes found hidden in bag of traveller at airport

Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Indian customs officers have arrested a man for attempting to smuggle venomous snakes and other reptiles into the country. He was stopped by officials at Mumbai airport on Sunday after flying from Thailand, the BBC reports. The Indian citizen's checked-in luggage was found to have 47 hidden reptiles, including venomous pythons. Indian customs officers found these venomous snakes hidden in the luggage of a man entering the country. (Mumbai Customs III/X) They were seized under Indian wildlife protection laws. The man remains in custody and has not been identified. Photographs of the colourful snakes were released on X by customs officers. In the post, officials said they'd confiscated 44 Indonesian pit vipers, three spider-tailed horned vipers and five Asian leaf turtles from the passenger. The source of the reptiles remains unclear. Under Indian law, licences and permits are required to import wildlife into the country. snakes
India news
animals
Smuggling
Airport CONTACT US
Auto news: Google Gemini AI assistant coming to new cars in 2025.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Sky News AU

19 minutes ago

• Sky News AU

At least 22 dead after suicide bomber attacks Orthodox church in Syria

At least 22 people have been killed and 63 others wounded after a suicide bomber attacked a church in Damascus, Syria. The attack occurred during a Sunday service after a man opened fire in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Prophet Elias. According to the interior ministry, after the man opened fire in the church, he detonated an explosive vest. According to the BBC, the attacker was part of the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS), though the group has not claimed the attack. A witness of the attack, Lawrence Maamari, spoke to AFP news agency about the attack and recounted that 'someone entered [the church] from outside carrying a weapon' and began shooting. Initial information on the attack revealed that the explosion happened at the entrance of the church, which killed several people inside and in the vicinity.

The Advertiser

18 hours ago

• The Advertiser

'Truly tragic': woman killed and mother loses unborn baby in horrific crash

Two lives have been lost and many others irreparably damaged after a "horrible" car accident in Newcastle in the early hours of Sunday morning. The crash occurred at 2.40am on Sunday at North Lambton when a white Holden Commodore, allegedly driven by a 19-year-old male, veered onto the wrong side of the dual carriageway of Newcastle Road while travelling west and trying to evade police. The Commodore then collided with a white Hyundai sedan that was travelling east near the Arthur Street intersection. The passenger of the Hyundai, a 55-year-old Indian woman who arrived in Australia only last week to visit family, died in the crash. The 28-year-old female driver of the Hyundai, who was 26 weeks pregnant, sustained serious leg injuries in the two-car crash. The pregnant woman also lost her baby in the crash and is in a serious condition at the John Hunter Hospital. It is alleged that the 19-year-old male driver of the Commodore and a 17-year-old female passenger, who is the registered owner of the vehicle, fled the scene on foot following the crash. Two girls aged 15 and 17 were in the backseat of the Commodore and were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital under police guard. Northern Region Commander, acting assistant commissioner Paul Dunstan, said it was a "horrible incident." "What's occurred is truly tragic," he said. "Two women driving around innocently. "One has lost their life; one has lost their unborn child." The crash caused the closure of Newcastle Road eastbound between the Jesmond roundabout and the Croudace Street intersection for the majority of Sunday morning. Assistant commissioner Dunstan said an officer on a motorcycle initially attempted to engage with the Commodore on Newcastle Road when it was noticed to have an incorrect licence plate. The officer followed the sedan for 30 seconds and then turned on its sirens and lights, which caused the Commodore to veer onto the wrong side of Newcastle Road. At that point, it was deemed unsafe to pursue the vehicle. Three to four minutes later, a police car spotted the Commodore on Newcastle Road at the intersection with Croudace Street. "Once again, that vehicle took off on the wrong side of the dual carriageway, travelling against the line of traffic," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "A short time later, police became aware that the Commodore collided with a Hyundai sedan travelling on Newcastle Road." Assistant commissioner Dunstan said the 19-year-old driver is known to police. He is described as being of Indigenous descent, of medium build, 165 centimetres tall and approximately 65 kilograms. Teenage joyrides and dangerous late-night driving have been a growing concern for police in Newcastle over the past year. "I must emphasise that this is not a stolen vehicle at this stage," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "It has not been reported, and we don't believe it's a stolen vehicle. "Joyriding and driving in a dangerous manner are always real concerns for us here in the Newcastle area." A critical incident team from Hunter Valley Police District is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command and overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC). "The incident has been determined a critical incident, with independent police investigating what has occurred," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "That investigation will be subject to oversight from the law enforcement conduct commission and the police professional standards command." Two lives have been lost and many others irreparably damaged after a "horrible" car accident in Newcastle in the early hours of Sunday morning. The crash occurred at 2.40am on Sunday at North Lambton when a white Holden Commodore, allegedly driven by a 19-year-old male, veered onto the wrong side of the dual carriageway of Newcastle Road while travelling west and trying to evade police. The Commodore then collided with a white Hyundai sedan that was travelling east near the Arthur Street intersection. The passenger of the Hyundai, a 55-year-old Indian woman who arrived in Australia only last week to visit family, died in the crash. The 28-year-old female driver of the Hyundai, who was 26 weeks pregnant, sustained serious leg injuries in the two-car crash. The pregnant woman also lost her baby in the crash and is in a serious condition at the John Hunter Hospital. It is alleged that the 19-year-old male driver of the Commodore and a 17-year-old female passenger, who is the registered owner of the vehicle, fled the scene on foot following the crash. Two girls aged 15 and 17 were in the backseat of the Commodore and were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital under police guard. Northern Region Commander, acting assistant commissioner Paul Dunstan, said it was a "horrible incident." "What's occurred is truly tragic," he said. "Two women driving around innocently. "One has lost their life; one has lost their unborn child." The crash caused the closure of Newcastle Road eastbound between the Jesmond roundabout and the Croudace Street intersection for the majority of Sunday morning. Assistant commissioner Dunstan said an officer on a motorcycle initially attempted to engage with the Commodore on Newcastle Road when it was noticed to have an incorrect licence plate. The officer followed the sedan for 30 seconds and then turned on its sirens and lights, which caused the Commodore to veer onto the wrong side of Newcastle Road. At that point, it was deemed unsafe to pursue the vehicle. Three to four minutes later, a police car spotted the Commodore on Newcastle Road at the intersection with Croudace Street. "Once again, that vehicle took off on the wrong side of the dual carriageway, travelling against the line of traffic," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "A short time later, police became aware that the Commodore collided with a Hyundai sedan travelling on Newcastle Road." Assistant commissioner Dunstan said the 19-year-old driver is known to police. He is described as being of Indigenous descent, of medium build, 165 centimetres tall and approximately 65 kilograms. Teenage joyrides and dangerous late-night driving have been a growing concern for police in Newcastle over the past year. "I must emphasise that this is not a stolen vehicle at this stage," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "It has not been reported, and we don't believe it's a stolen vehicle. "Joyriding and driving in a dangerous manner are always real concerns for us here in the Newcastle area." A critical incident team from Hunter Valley Police District is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command and overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC). "The incident has been determined a critical incident, with independent police investigating what has occurred," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "That investigation will be subject to oversight from the law enforcement conduct commission and the police professional standards command." Two lives have been lost and many others irreparably damaged after a "horrible" car accident in Newcastle in the early hours of Sunday morning. The crash occurred at 2.40am on Sunday at North Lambton when a white Holden Commodore, allegedly driven by a 19-year-old male, veered onto the wrong side of the dual carriageway of Newcastle Road while travelling west and trying to evade police. The Commodore then collided with a white Hyundai sedan that was travelling east near the Arthur Street intersection. The passenger of the Hyundai, a 55-year-old Indian woman who arrived in Australia only last week to visit family, died in the crash. The 28-year-old female driver of the Hyundai, who was 26 weeks pregnant, sustained serious leg injuries in the two-car crash. The pregnant woman also lost her baby in the crash and is in a serious condition at the John Hunter Hospital. It is alleged that the 19-year-old male driver of the Commodore and a 17-year-old female passenger, who is the registered owner of the vehicle, fled the scene on foot following the crash. Two girls aged 15 and 17 were in the backseat of the Commodore and were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital under police guard. Northern Region Commander, acting assistant commissioner Paul Dunstan, said it was a "horrible incident." "What's occurred is truly tragic," he said. "Two women driving around innocently. "One has lost their life; one has lost their unborn child." The crash caused the closure of Newcastle Road eastbound between the Jesmond roundabout and the Croudace Street intersection for the majority of Sunday morning. Assistant commissioner Dunstan said an officer on a motorcycle initially attempted to engage with the Commodore on Newcastle Road when it was noticed to have an incorrect licence plate. The officer followed the sedan for 30 seconds and then turned on its sirens and lights, which caused the Commodore to veer onto the wrong side of Newcastle Road. At that point, it was deemed unsafe to pursue the vehicle. Three to four minutes later, a police car spotted the Commodore on Newcastle Road at the intersection with Croudace Street. "Once again, that vehicle took off on the wrong side of the dual carriageway, travelling against the line of traffic," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "A short time later, police became aware that the Commodore collided with a Hyundai sedan travelling on Newcastle Road." Assistant commissioner Dunstan said the 19-year-old driver is known to police. He is described as being of Indigenous descent, of medium build, 165 centimetres tall and approximately 65 kilograms. Teenage joyrides and dangerous late-night driving have been a growing concern for police in Newcastle over the past year. "I must emphasise that this is not a stolen vehicle at this stage," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "It has not been reported, and we don't believe it's a stolen vehicle. "Joyriding and driving in a dangerous manner are always real concerns for us here in the Newcastle area." A critical incident team from Hunter Valley Police District is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command and overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC). "The incident has been determined a critical incident, with independent police investigating what has occurred," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "That investigation will be subject to oversight from the law enforcement conduct commission and the police professional standards command." Two lives have been lost and many others irreparably damaged after a "horrible" car accident in Newcastle in the early hours of Sunday morning. The crash occurred at 2.40am on Sunday at North Lambton when a white Holden Commodore, allegedly driven by a 19-year-old male, veered onto the wrong side of the dual carriageway of Newcastle Road while travelling west and trying to evade police. The Commodore then collided with a white Hyundai sedan that was travelling east near the Arthur Street intersection. The passenger of the Hyundai, a 55-year-old Indian woman who arrived in Australia only last week to visit family, died in the crash. The 28-year-old female driver of the Hyundai, who was 26 weeks pregnant, sustained serious leg injuries in the two-car crash. The pregnant woman also lost her baby in the crash and is in a serious condition at the John Hunter Hospital. It is alleged that the 19-year-old male driver of the Commodore and a 17-year-old female passenger, who is the registered owner of the vehicle, fled the scene on foot following the crash. Two girls aged 15 and 17 were in the backseat of the Commodore and were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital under police guard. Northern Region Commander, acting assistant commissioner Paul Dunstan, said it was a "horrible incident." "What's occurred is truly tragic," he said. "Two women driving around innocently. "One has lost their life; one has lost their unborn child." The crash caused the closure of Newcastle Road eastbound between the Jesmond roundabout and the Croudace Street intersection for the majority of Sunday morning. Assistant commissioner Dunstan said an officer on a motorcycle initially attempted to engage with the Commodore on Newcastle Road when it was noticed to have an incorrect licence plate. The officer followed the sedan for 30 seconds and then turned on its sirens and lights, which caused the Commodore to veer onto the wrong side of Newcastle Road. At that point, it was deemed unsafe to pursue the vehicle. Three to four minutes later, a police car spotted the Commodore on Newcastle Road at the intersection with Croudace Street. "Once again, that vehicle took off on the wrong side of the dual carriageway, travelling against the line of traffic," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "A short time later, police became aware that the Commodore collided with a Hyundai sedan travelling on Newcastle Road." Assistant commissioner Dunstan said the 19-year-old driver is known to police. He is described as being of Indigenous descent, of medium build, 165 centimetres tall and approximately 65 kilograms. Teenage joyrides and dangerous late-night driving have been a growing concern for police in Newcastle over the past year. "I must emphasise that this is not a stolen vehicle at this stage," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "It has not been reported, and we don't believe it's a stolen vehicle. "Joyriding and driving in a dangerous manner are always real concerns for us here in the Newcastle area." A critical incident team from Hunter Valley Police District is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command and overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC). "The incident has been determined a critical incident, with independent police investigating what has occurred," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "That investigation will be subject to oversight from the law enforcement conduct commission and the police professional standards command."

West Australian

a day ago

• West Australian

Illegal fishing boats double in five-month surge off Australian waters with 60 destroyed

Maritime patrols have intercepted a sharp rise in illegal fishing activity off Australia's northern waters, with the number of foreign vessels more than doubling in the past five months. The recent surge — where one boat was caught with more than half a tonne of sea cucumbers — comes after almost 270 vessels were netted between July 1 and May 30. Nearly 60 boats have since been destroyed as part of the crackdown. Many of the intercepted boats are small, narrow-hulled vessels typically designed only for travel near shore. Authorities have seized large quantities of illegally harvested sea cucumber, shark fin, salt used to preserve the catch, and smaller amounts of other marine species. The rise in boat arrivals — 169 of the 270 were in the past six months — comes after Australia had seen a dip in recent years. In total, 229 vessels have had fishing gear and/or catch forfeited under Australian legislation. The bulk of the activity has been off the Northern Territory coast, with 212 foreign fishers prosecuted in Darwin Local Court since July 1 last year. During one raid near the Cobourg Peninsula in the Northern Territory on May 21, authorities seized 600 kilograms of sea cucumber and 330kg of salt from a boat of eight fishermen. The 600kg seized sea cucumber, also known as trepang, was estimated to be worth $60,000. Their vessel was destroyed and all on board were charged. The skipper was sentenced to a two-month jail term, to be released after 21 days on a $2000 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of two years. The remainder received a six-week sentence, but can be released after three weeks. Soaring prices for sea cucumber and shark fins, among other produce, had been blamed for the swell of fishers travelling to Australian waters. Australian Fisheries Management Authority's fisheries manager Justin Bathurst said the foreign nationals undertook enormous risk in travelling to Australia as they could be detained, face heavy fines and their ships can be burnt or sunk. 'Illegal foreign fishers choosing to fish illegally in Australia are taking considerable risks. They will lose their catch, fishing gear, vessel and could even go to jail,' Mr Bathurst said. But monitoring in excess of 30,000km of coastline, much of which is situated in very remote areas, poses a challenge and stretches authorities resources. In a multi-agency operation, AFMA works with the Australian Border Force to deter illegal fishing, along with patrols watching for people smugglers and other unlawful activity. Beyond aerial, land and sea surveillance, Australian authorities also undertake targeted campaigns within Indonesian fishing communities, including through social media and releasing educational material. The foreign boats — usually from Indonesia — breaching Australian water has been an ongoing issue off northern waters and doesn't stop short at just fishing vessels with people smugglers also using smaller boats. At least 10 boats containing up to 183 people in total were intercepted by Australia's Operation Sovereign Borders between the start of the financial year to the end of April, Department of Home Affairs told AFR. But rather than the larger boats which were intercepted at the height of Australia's illegal boat arrival crisis, data shows a new trend emerging of small vessels ferrying just a handful of people.