Smuggled monkeys suffocate to death at city airport

CHENNAI: Two monkeys, smuggled from Thailand, died in the airport when the smuggler reached Chennai. Customs officials disposed the carcasses in an incinerator used to destroy seized drugs in Chengalpattu.

The Thai Airlines flight from Bangkok reached Chennai on Tuesday last week. The customs official who was checking passengers found a person from Ramanathapuram with two plastic baskets with him.

While cheking the basket, 2 African monkeys were found. Sources said both were unconscious upon arrival.

During inquiry, it was found that the passenger had no proper documents to bring the animals to India, and that he had smuggled them. While officials were planning to send the animals back to Thailand, they realised found both monkeys had suffocated to death, due to lack of air circulation.

They disposed of the carcasses using the incinerator in Singaperumal Koil used to destroy the seized drugs.