KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department is putting the blame for the 22 snakes found in baggage on an AirAsia flight which landed in India squarely on Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) auxiliary police.

In a statement today, the department said it only screens hand carry baggage when it passes through its section of airports.

The "in-line baggage" screening is the responsibility of the MAHB auxiliary police, it said.

"This screening is to ensure the safety of aircraft, airport areas and flights which are more focused on dangerous and risky items such as firearms, bombs, ammunition and the like.

"Image scanning and monitoring of all luggage is done entirely by the MAHB, KLIA auxiliary police on duty and the results of the inspection will be channeled to the relevant enforcement agencies.

"In this case, the baggage (in question) had the status of 'check-in baggage' where the baggage is accepted by the airline and under the full control of the MAHB auxiliary police," it said.

The department said that there will be implementation of centralised screening of international flight passengers to be carried out at KLIA Terminal 2 with the collaboration of MAHB.

Bernama reported last week that Indian airport authorities found 22 snakes in the baggage of a woman who arrived at Chennai airport from Kuala Lumpur.

The female passenger was intercepted after arriving on an AirAsia flight on Friday, the Chennai customs department said on Saturday.

On examination of her checked-in baggage, 22 snakes of various species and a chameleon were found and seized under customs and wildlife protection laws, it said.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/05/905690/it-mahbs-job-says-customs-department-after-snake-plane-fiasco