19-2-2024 (BANGKOK) A Mongolian man was apprehended at Thailand’s main airport on February 17 for allegedly attempting to smuggle a collection of endangered animals, including Komodo dragons, pythons, tortoises, and live fish out of the country, according to authorities. The arrest took place after officials conducted a search of the man’s checked luggage for a flight from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, as confirmed by Phantong Loykulnanta, the spokesman for the customs department.
During the inspection, authorities discovered two Komodo dragons, six Indian star tortoises, eight iguanas, five pythons, one boa constrictor, and 24 live fish.
The customs department has charged the man with smuggling protected animals, highlighting the severity of the offense. Thailand serves as a significant transit hub for wildlife smugglers, who often traffic these animals to countries such as China and Vietnam.
This incident follows a similar case in October 2023 when an airport worker at Suvarnabhumi Airport was suspended after a traveler managed to smuggle over 30 live animals onto a flight bound for Taiwan. The illicit cargo included a marmot, two baby otters, and 28 baby tortoises, raising concerns about the effectiveness of security measures at the airport.
