POLICE late last night seized over 200 protected wildlife and other animals that had been smuggled to Thailand from Aceh province, Sumatra island, Indonesia, just as the arrested suspect was bringing them to Bangkok , TV Channel 7 said.
Highway Police and a Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) team arrested Mr. Sarawut (surname withheld), or Tum, 43, as he was driving a sedan filled with wildlife at km. 28 of Highway 41 in Sawi district of Chumphon province.
Seized were three Asian small-clawed otters, one silver gibbon, five Sulawesi bear cuscus, four Sulawesi hornbill, 20 Philippine sailfin lizards, 65 snakes, eight tree monitors, 37 frill-necked lizards and 49 eastern blue-tongued lizards.
CIB investigators had found out that some criminals were smuggling wildlife from Indonesia’s Aceh province to Thailand for sale to Thai customers and send to third countries.
They traced this gang’s smuggling method and then moved in to arrest this suspect just as he was heading to Bangkok,
CAPTION:
Some of the over 200 smuggled wildlife and other animals seized last night, Dec. 22, 2024. Photo: MCOT
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