Another smuggling attempt has been stopped, according to Indian customs officials at the airport in Mumbai.
The 16 live snakes, including garter snakes and a Kenyan sand boa, are either non-venomous or have such weak venom that they are considered harmless to humans.
Earlier in June, a passenger was stopped with venomous snakes in their luggage, and just days later another passenger was arrested for trying to enter India with nearly 100 wild animals, including marsupials and tarantulas. Both passengers came from Thailand.
The smuggling of animals is driven to a high degree by the great demand for exotic pets.
