Reptiles seized at Suvarnabhumi in parcels bound for Philippines
More than 120 live reptiles have been seized at Suvarnabhumi Airport after authorities intercepted two parcels falsely declared as dried fruit snacks and food and destined for Philippines.
The seizure was made yesterday in a joint operation involving officers from the Suvarnabhumi Airport Wildlife Checkpoint, the Customs Department and the Suvarnabhumi Mail Centre.
During X-ray scanning of two international registered-mail parcels sent from Surat Thani province, officials spotted objects resembling living creatures. They opened the parcels, which had been falsely declared as “Dried Fruit Snacks and Food” and listed Philippines as the destination.
A search found live reptiles packed in cloth bags and transparent plastic containers. They included four African spurred (sulcata) tortoises, 16 iguanas, 88 ball pythons and other ornamental snakes, 16 tegus, spiny-tailed lizards, bearded dragons and two leopard geckos. The two parcels weighed more than 18 kilogrammes in total.
Komkrit Pinsai, chief of the Suvarnabhumi Airport Wildlife Checkpoint, said smuggling wildlife through international mail is not only a serious offence but also subjects animals to suffering and poses a risk of spreading infectious diseases.
He said authorities had strengthened screening measures in cooperation with relevant agencies, including analysing shipping patterns and using detection technology, to prevent Thailand from being used as a transit route for illegal wildlife trafficking.
The case has been handed over to investigators at Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station, who are gathering evidence and tracing the sender and other people involved before taking legal action.
The seized animals have been handed over to the Wildlife Health Management Group of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation for care.