What's new

Thai Customs seize hundreds of smuggled turtles

Tiki Tam Tam

<b>MILITARY PROFESSIONALS</b>
May 15, 2006
9,330
0
2,461
Thai Customs seize hundreds of smuggled turtles

Live turtles and other rare reptiles were stuffed into four suitcases and smuggled into Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport

Turtles-seized-by-Customs-007.jpg


Thai Customs have found 451 turtles worth 1 million baht (£20,000) stashed in suitcases offloaded from a passenger flight from Bangladesh, in the latest seizure of live animals at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport.

Turtles of varying sizes worth around 2,000 baht apiece in Thai markets, and seven false gavials – a type of freshwater crocodile worth 10,000 baht each, were found on Thursday in small bags packed into cases after authorities received a tip-off that a known trafficker was travelling to Thailand.

The alleged trafficker, a Bangladeshi national, did not collect the luggage and fled on arrival in Bangkok, customs officials said.

The discovery was the biggest since September last year, when 1,140 turtles were found by Customs in a single day. A further 218 were seized a month later.

More at

Thai Customs seize hundreds of smuggled turtles | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Quite a haul!

One cannot but feel sad that poverty can drive anyone to do anything just to keep the home fires burning.

It is not that the person who carried it is the kingpin. In fact, he must be a courier.

I have seen many such couriers at Kolkata airport boarding for Dacca on Biman.

They can table fans, grandfather clocks and even huge tin trunks which would cost a huge sum in freight beyond the allowed free luggage!

If one sees their attire and the scruffiness, they sure could not be well placed Bangladeshis. At least that is the impression one gets.

One must be educated of the endangered spieces.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 1, Members: 0, Guests: 1)


Back
Top Bottom