NEW DEHLI: The Customs officials at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) have seized over 100 kilogram Red Organ Pipe Corals from an Afghan national, who was trying to smuggle these endangered corals into the country. Officials said the corals, with a high ornamental value, are one of the most traded rare species of corals.
The accused landed at the Delhi airport from Kabul on Monday. The Customs sleuths intercepted him following a tip-off. “On frisking, 114 kilogram Red Organ Pipe Corals were recovered from his bag. When questioned, he could not give a satisfactory reply. The Wildlife Department officials were then roped in and it was ascertained that the corals were listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES),” a senior Customs official said.
The man was then arrested under Section 104 of Customs Act, the officials said. They further said that it is being investigated whether the accused has been involved in such smuggling earlier as well. “We are probing whom he was supposed to deliver these too. As these corals are found largely in the west Pacific region to the south of Japan and near eastern coast of Africa,” the officer said.
