A 19-year-old Taiwanese passenger was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport for attempting to smuggle 30 Indian Star tortoises to Taipei. Discovered by airport officials due to suspicious movements, the tortoises were strapped to her body, wrapped in adhesive tape, and placed in cloth bags.
Get today's headlines by email 
This incident unfolded early Tuesday morning when wildlife officials, led by Komkrit Pinsai, chief of the Wildlife Inspection Station, identified the illegal cargo during a screening at the departure terminal. The Indian Star tortoise is a protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and is highly valued on the black market.
The suspect, whose name remains undisclosed, was scheduled to fly on VietJet Air flight VZ568. With one tortoise found dead among those smuggled, authorities took her into custody at the airport's police station, charging her under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Join the discussion? 
Already a member? 
Adapted by ASEAN Now · Bangkok Post · 29 Apr 2026