Customs steps-up security against import of illegal wildlife

Maldives Customs Service has increase its vigilance against the import of illegal wildlife into the country. The move follows the discovery of a four-foot foreign snake on a street in the capital Male’.

Senior Superintendent of Customs Ahmed Niyaz told Sun today that they have stepped-up security against the import of wildlife, due to the recent increase in discovery of non-native animals in the Maldives.

“We have good procedures, but as there is an increase in these discoveries, more steps need to be taken,” Niyaz said.

Customs suspects that eggs of animals such as snakes are brought in through seaports, as security is less in ports not regulated by Customs, Niyaz explained.

During a drug bust on 21 January, police discovered a slow loris, an endangered species, from a house in Male’. In a similar raid on 7 March, the police made two arrests and confiscated a snake and a spider along with drugs, and on 4 March, Police Drug Enforcement Department seized a 4-foot royal python during a special operation in Kaafu Himmafushi.