The seizure included rare birds like scarlet macaw, harlequin macaw, blue-and-gold macaw, various varieties of conure and cockatoos. 

The searches also resulted in seizure of wildlife animals like squirrel monkey, callithrix monkey and a pair of red iguana, the DRI said in a statement.

“The coordinated swoop on syndicate smuggling exotic animals were carried out by the officers of DRI, Chennai in tandem with the officers of Aizawl, Guwahati and Kolkata,” the statement said.

The officers of DRI at Aizawl and Kolkata intercepted a consignment of assorted wildlife of foreign origin consisting of 35 birds of various species, animals and one baby marmoset and one Bengal cat at Kolkata airport, which was smuggled through the porous Indo-Myanmar border. The key person who organised the illicit cross border transportation of these exotic wildlife was arrested last week at Mizoram. The smuggler confessed his role also named the persons for whom he is indulging in the smuggling activity based out of Mumbai, Pune and Chennai, the DRI said. A key person was apprehended in Chennai during the operations. 

Import, export and re-export of any live animal or plant of a species listed in the CITES Appendices (or of any part or derivative of such animal or plant) requires a permit or certificate. 

According to DRI, international trade in all wild fauna and flora in general, and the species covered under CITES in particular, is regulated through the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, the Foreign Trade (Development Regulation) Act 1992, the Foreign Trade Policy of Government of India and Customs Act, 1962. As per Customs Act, 1962 the offences are punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and with fine, sources said.

The rescued animals are likely to be handed over to wildlife rescue headquarters in Chennai. A few of them may be also deported after investigations, sources said.