CHENNAI: Six black-collared starlings, which were smuggled from Thailand, were found dead on Thursday. The Customs officers were checking passengers who had arrived from Bangkok on Thursday.

Upon suspicion, they intercepted a Chennai-based passenger who had visited Bangkok on a tourist visa.

While checking his baggage, they found six black-collared starlings – all of them weak and motionless due to suffocation. The officials alerted the Wildlife Control Bureau in Besant Nagar.

When the officers visited the airport for examining the birds, they found that all six birds had died due to lack of ventilation. Black-collared starlings are mostly found in South China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore.

Officers also found that the passenger did not have any proper documents with him to bring the birds to India. He said that he brought three pairs and decided to keep them as pets in the house. They arrested the passenger and further inquiry is on.