BANGKOK, 6 November 2014 – Suvarnabhumi International Airport authorities have arrested three men who were responsible for smuggling turtles for a wildlife trafficking gang.
Police at the airport have confiscated 669 Hamilton turtles worth over 2 million baht that were packed in 8 suitcases. Among those arrested include Mr. Pongsak Puyapan, Mr. Wanas Hatawiset, and Mr. Pariwat Hannarong, all of whom worked as porters for a contracting company.
Initially, the trio denied any involvement in smuggling the turtles into Thailand. However, they later confessed that they were paid 500 baht each to deliver these suitcases to an unknown individual at the airport’s parking lot.
According to the law, the three men were guilty of violating Section 27 of the Customs Act B.E. 2469 (1926) and the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act B.E. 2535 (1992).
All these turtles would be sent to the Fisheries Department Research and Development Center before they were released into the wild.
