US EditionTeen with 30 Tortoises Under Clothes Nabbed at Thai Airport
Authorities said 29 tortoises were alive and one was dead, and they are investigating whether the teen was part of a wider smuggling network.
- Thai authorities arrested a 19-year-old Taiwanese woman at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Tuesday after discovering 30 Indian star tortoises—29 alive, one dead—strapped to her body under her clothing, valued at around $9,000.
- Indian star tortoises, classified as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, are targeted as 'exotic pets.' Thailand serves as a major transit hub for wildlife smugglers exploiting this lucrative black market in Asia.
- Authorities became suspicious of her unusual movements while she prepared to board a flight to Taipei. The suspect had used adhesive tape to immobilize the animals, packing them into cloth bags before attaching them to her body to evade detection.
- Wildlife conservation officials took custody of the surviving tortoises for care and evidence in legal proceedings. The woman was charged with illegally transporting protected animals and evading customs controls.
- Officials are investigating whether the suspect was part of a wider smuggling network. This arrest highlights challenges in enforcing CITES protections and disrupting trafficking operations moving illicit wildlife through international transit hubs.
48 Articles
48 Articles
Thailand airport officials bust teenager with $9,000 worth of tortoises under her shirt
Thai authorities apprehended a teenager at a Bangkok airport after discovering nearly $9,000 worth of tortoises attached to her body. Officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport's departure terminal grew wary of the 19-year-old Taiwanese woman's behavior as she prepared to board a flight to Taipei. Upon investigation, staff found 30 Indian star tortoises — 29 alive and one dead — taped underneath her clothing, per RNZ News. According to Thailand's wildlif…
A Taiwanese woman was arrested at Bangkok Airport, Thailand, on Tuesday for attempting to smuggle 30 protected turtles. The animals were attached to her body.
She thought she could board without raising suspicion, but her unusual attitude drew the attention of the Thai authorities... and the subsequent search revealed a method of smuggling.
Authorities are investigating a possible connection to an international wildlife smuggling ring.
The 19-year-old had attached these Indian star turtles to her body with tape, classified as "vulnerable" but targeted by traffickers who sell as "exotic pets".
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
