— A Canadian man was arrested at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday after security officials discovered a crocodile skull in his luggage during a routine check.
The 32-year-old man was preparing to board his flight to Canada when customs officers found the skull, wrapped in a cream-colored cloth, weighing approximately 777 grams (1.71 pounds).
“Upon examination, a skull with sharp teeth, resembling the jaw of a baby crocodile, was discovered,” Delhi Customs said in a statement on Thursday.
Violation of Wildlife Laws
Authorities handed the skull over to the Department of Forests and Wildlife, which confirmed that it belonged to a species protected under India’s Wildlife Protection Act. Possession of such wildlife items is illegal under Indian law, and the man also violated the Customs Act by carrying the item without mandatory documentation.
Forest officer Rajesh Tandon told local media that the man allegedly purchased the skull in Thailand and did not have the required permissions to carry wildlife products.
“The texture, tooth pattern, well-developed bony palate, and nostrils confirmed the item as the skull of a baby crocodile,” officials said.
The man claimed he had neither hunted nor killed the animal, according to reports by the Hindustan Times.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities are conducting further tests to determine the exact sub-species of the crocodile. A case has been registered against the man, and an investigation is ongoing.
This incident follows a similar case last year when a Canadian woman was stopped at the same airport after officials found animal horns in her luggage. She claimed the horns were a souvenir from her trek in the northern Ladakh region.
Delhi Customs has reiterated the importance of adhering to wildlife protection laws and obtaining the necessary permissions for transporting wildlife items.