Indian man held with gibbons, chameleons in airport bust

An Indian national has been arrested for attempting to smuggle protected wildlife out of the country through Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Santanee Phairattanakorn, director of the Suvarnabhumi Passenger Control Customs Office, said a joint task force searched and arrested the male passenger booked on a flight to Kolkata in India on April 13, after protected wildlife, valued at more than 200,000 baht, was found in his suitcases.

The inspection uncovered:

- 1 live gibbon

- 1 dead gibbon

- 20 live chameleons

- 18 live Japanese turtles

Santanee said the suspect now faces multiple charges under Thailand’s Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act, Animal Epidemics Act, Fisheries laws and Customs Act, along with other related offences.