A 56-year-old Indian Bollywood actor and film producer dubbed "RM" has been apprehended by customs officials at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Indonesia for attempting to smuggle protected wildlife, Media Indonesia reported.

The animals smuggled to India in the passenger's luggage included two birds of paradise and one otter in a strange bid by the traveller to export exotic animals by aeroplane.

According to Gatot Sugeng Wibowo, Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Customs Office, speaking on July 4, the smuggling attempt was detected when X-ray officers observed in the passenger's suitcase in the baggage of an Indigo Air flight (6E 1602) to Mumbai, India, on July 1.

Following the arrest, Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Airport Aviation Security secured the suitcase and dealt with the passenger.

RM, by then, was already in the boarding lounge and had been called so officers could inspect his luggage.

During the inspection, Gatot said the suitcase was opened and was found to contain a small yellow bird of paradise (Paradisaea minor), a bald Papua bird of paradise (Cicinnurus respublica), and a small-clawed albino otter (Aonyx cinereus).

These rare animals, he continued, were surrounded by various food items, clothes, handbags, and children's toys in a case of false concealment.

The passenger was immediately taken to the Soekarno-Hatta Customs Office for further investigation.

Upon examination, RM claimed to be a Bollywood actor and film producer who was visiting Indonesia on vacation.

However, he later admitted that he had been entrusted with the suitcase by another Indian national at Terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport. The case was to be passed to a third, unnamed individual upon arrival in India.

Further investigations were carried out and it was found that RM had actually purchased the suitcase containing the animals upon his arrival at Terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

Following his plea, RM's status was placed under official investigation, and he is suspected of violating several customs regulations under Indonesian law.

If found guilty he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of IDR5bn ($307,000).

Gatot further explained that the animals intended for smuggling are included in Appendix I and II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

"To transport these animals, special permits are required, considering they are protected species," he emphasised.