22 seized snakes confirmed as 'check in baggage', under MAHB, says customs
MUHAMMAD AMINURALIF MOHD ZOKI
KUALA LUMPUR - Twenty-two snakes found in a checked baggage at Chennai Airport last Friday, which was confirmed to have been smuggled out from Kuala Lumpur were scanned as checked in luggade.
The Malaysian Customs Department said it carries out inspections on 'hand carry baggage'.
It further said other registered baggage is scanned by the airline's baggage machine and under the full control and supervision of the Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) Assistant Police (AVSEC) and the results of the inspection are sent to relevant enforcement agencies.
"Passengers' baggage with the 'check-in baggage' status must be registered at the 'check-in bag' counter in the scanning machine owned by MAHB before the passenger passes through the Immigration and Customs inspection area.
"When passengers pass through the Customs inspection area, only baggage or bags declared as 'hand carry baggage' will be checked by customs officers," it said in a statement, today.
The inspection to ensure the safety of aircraft, airport area and flights which are more focused on dangerous and risky items such as firearms, bombs, ammunition and the like, it further said.
According to him, in this case, the luggage that was not a hand carry baggage but a 'checked-in luggage'.
On Friday, Indian airport authorities found 22 snakes in the luggage of a woman arriving at Chennai airport from Kuala Lumpur.
The Chennai Customs Department detained a female passenger who arrived on an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur and found various species of snakes and a chameleon in her luggage.
