India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested two men following the seizure, according to a report in The Times of India.

The report said one of the suspects admitted to being in touch with an overseas supplier named David Lu, who ordered him to deliver the consignment to the other suspect. It did not state Lu’s nationality.

It said they were arrested after DRI received information about a consignment containing live exotic animals arriving from Malaysia at the Mumbai air complex on Oct 5.

“When the DRI officials reached the spot, they found the consignment had already been cleared by the customs department and that they had been received by a man known as Raja.

“They then took the registration number of the vehicle which was transporting the consignment and intercepted it,” the report said.

Upon searching, the wildlife enforcement officers found 30 packets, with 16 containing declared items like ornamental fishes. Another 13 packets contained exotic reptiles like pythons, iguanas, turtles, tortoises and lizards.

“The officers found 548 animals were alive while 117 were dead. Personnel from the wildlife crime control bureau were called in for assistance.”

One of the suspects also admitted to having paid Rs9 lakhs (RM50,380) to Raja as arranged by Lu.

The seized animals are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which is recognised by 184 countries, including India and Malaysia.