Bangkok: Central Investigation Bureau police, along with the Don Mueang Wildlife Checkpoint and Customs, arrested a gang of three Taiwanese men who were smuggling more than 50 protected wild animals, concealing them on their bodies, and preparing to board a flight out of the country. This follows an investigation into the previous arrest of another Taiwanese man.
According to Thai News Agency, the Central Investigation Bureau, led by Pol. Lt. Gen. Natthasak Chaowansai, Commander of the Central Investigation Bureau, along with officers from the Don Mueang Airport Wildlife Checkpoint and the Customs Department, arrested three Taiwanese men: Mr. Chu, 53, Mr. Hong, 40, and Mr. Yang, 36.
They were arrested at Don Mueang Airport as they were preparing to depart the country. They were seized with 52 protected wildlife animals, including Indian star tortoises, spider tortoises, baby tortoises, mountain tortoises, and crocodile lizards. All of them were tightly wrapped with tape and hidden around both legs to avoid being searched by officials.
This incident stems from the previous arrest of another Taiwanese man by officers at Don Mueang Airport’s wildlife checkpoint while attempting to smuggle wildlife out of the country. Several species of wildlife were found wrapped around his pants. The investigation revealed the network was the same, leading to a planned arrest. They discovered the Taiwanese suspects arriving at Don Mueang Airport and preparing to depart. Officers from the 1st Division of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, along with officers from the Don Mueang Airport Wildlife Checkpoint and Customs officials, searched all three suspects. During the search, they discovered items tightly wrapped in tape around each suspect’s legs, suggesting they were deliberately hiding from authorities.
The three suspects confessed to all charges, saying they were paid approximately 30,000 baht each time and had done it twice to sell to groups of people who liked the animal.
Initially, officials charged the suspects with “possession of protected wildlife without permission from the Director-General, attempted export of protected wildlife and controlled wildlife without permission from the Director-General, in accordance with the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019), attempted export of prohibited and restricted goods out of the Kingdom, in accordance with the Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017), and attempted export or transit through the Kingdom without permission from the Director-General, in accordance with the Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015). The seized animals were handed over to the Wildlife and Plant Health Management Group for care, rehabilitation, disease control, and treatment.