NONTHABURI, Thailand – Thai authorities have confiscated tiger hides worth 430,000 baht during a wildlife trafficking crackdown in Nonthaburi province. The operation, led by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP), involved collaboration with the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Wildlife Justice Commission. Acting on a search warrant, officials raided a property in Bang Bua Thong district, uncovering three tiger hides, including heads, reportedly being stored for sale on social media.
The hides were found at the residence of a 59-year-old man, who claimed they belonged to another individual. Investigators confirmed the tiger remains lacked legal possession permits or registration marks and had been offered for sale at 200,000 baht online. The suspect faces charges under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019) for illegal possession and attempted trafficking, offenses carrying penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment and fines of 1,000,000 baht.
The case has been referred to Bang Bua Thong Police Station for further legal proceedings, with formal complaints to be filed by the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division. The confiscated hides will undergo verification and forensic analysis at the DNP Wildlife Forensic Laboratory Center to determine their origin and connection to other trafficking networks.
