Rare leopard cub seized in Mae Sot sting operation

Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) police have apprehended two Myanmar nationals in a sting operation at a shopping mall parking lot in Mae Sot, Tak province.

The suspects were caught attempting to smuggle a seven-month-old black leopard cub across the border to Shwe Kokko, Myanmar.

The operation, which concluded today, involved a coordinated effort between the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED), the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).

The investigation began on April 6, after authorities received a tip-off regarding the transport of a protected animal species through a private courier service in Bangkok.

The shipment was misleadingly declared simply as a “cat.”

Upon inspection, officials discovered the rare black leopard cub.

To identify those behind the shipment, investigators allowed the delivery to proceed under surveillance, tracking it to a designated hand-off point at a department store in Mae Sot.

Upon arrival, officers moved in to arrest the two suspects, identified only as “Saw” and “Khin.”

Preliminary investigations suggest the smuggling ring is part of a sophisticated transnational network, with operatives spanning Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar.

The group coordinates the movement of wildlife via Facebook, from the Cambodian border through Thailand, with the ultimate destination being the gambling hub of Shwe Kokko in Myanmar.

During interrogation, the suspects denied the charges, claiming that they believed the animal was merely a domestic black cat.

They told police that they had been hired for 25,000 baht to deliver the animal to an acquaintance in Myawaddy.

Investigators remain skeptical, given the complexity of the operation and the high value of the animal. \

The pair has been charged with joint possession of a protected wildlife species without a permit, in violation of the Wild Animal Conservation and Protection Act (2019).

The DNP director-general has ordered a full-scale investigation to track down both the suppliers and the buyers involved in the network.

As for the seven-month-old black leopard, it has been transferred to the Wildlife Rescue Center No. 3 (Prathap Chang) in Ratchaburi province, where it will receive professional care and rehabilitation.