Bangkok, Thailand – Three Taiwanese nationals were arrested at Don Mueang Airport after authorities discovered 52 sedated and protected animals tied to their bodies in a brazen attempt to smuggle wildlife out of Thailand.
Arrest and discovery
Police detained Hsu Ching Chung (53), Hong Zhi-Xian (40) and Yang Tsung-Ju (36) after officers from the Nature and Environment Protection Police stopped them for checks at the airport. Investigators found dozens of animals bound in nylon stockings and cloth and strapped to the suspects’ legs and hips, officials said.
Among the seized animals were spiny-backed turtles, star tortoises, big-headed turtles and crocodile lizards. All were sedated, apparently to keep them quiet during the attempted export to buyers in Taiwan, according to police statements.
Cruel concealment methods
Major General Anek Taosupap, the police chief overseeing the inquiry, described the method as both cruel and dangerous. “These animals were wrapped, sedated and tied up to avoid detection. That is cruel and life‑threatening,” he said, expressing alarm at the condition in which the animals were found.
Wildlife specialists who examined the animals said many were in critical condition and required immediate care; authorities reported that the seized specimens were being treated by wildlife experts and that several were fighting for survival.
Linked investigations and previous seizure
Authorities said the arrests were the result of an expanded investigation following a nearly identical case on October 7, when another Taiwanese national, Chiu Kuo-Shu (54), was stopped with a cargo that included two slow lorises, three otters, a squirrel and several turtles.
After that first seizure, airport controls were heightened. It was during the stepped-up checks that officers intercepted the three men this week, officials said.
Confession and alleged smuggling network
During questioning the three suspects admitted they were part of an international smuggling network. They told investigators they received 30,000 baht — about 770 euros — per delivery and that they had already completed two successful transports, police reported. The animals were said to have been supplied by a source in Thailand.
Charges and official response
The men were charged with illegal possession and export of protected species under Thailand’s wildlife protection law, as well as violations of customs and animal welfare regulations. If convicted, they face multi‑year prison sentences.
Police said they would continue to pursue those believed to be behind the trafficking ring. “Such cases show that profit motive can outweigh compassion,” an official commented, stressing the need to track down the network’s organizers and suppliers.
Wider context
Authorities noted that demand for exotic pets in parts of East Asia has fuelled a rise in wildlife trafficking, pushing criminals to ever more inventive and brutal tactics to move animals across borders. The recent arrests underline ongoing efforts by Thai law enforcement to clamp down on illegal wildlife exports and protect vulnerable species.
Source: The Thaiger