Nong Khai: Over 6,000 orchids intercepted on way to Laos

[webfact]

Over 6,000 orchids intercepted on way to Laos

By The Nation

 

 

Customs officials in Nong Khai intercepted 6,419 orchids of various species that were being smuggled into Laos.

 

Customs office chief Nimit Saeng-amphai said on Wednesday the seizure had taken place at 8.45pm last Friday after a large amount of cardboard boxes were noticed among consumer goods aboard a bus waiting to cross the First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge.

 

When no one came forward when called to claim the boxes, they were opened and found to contain 2,935 Vanda orchids, 1,450 Dendrobium orchids and 300 Grammatophyllum orchids.

 

 

Nimit said a permit is needed to export cultivated orchids and the international CITES treaty covering endangered specials bans the export of wild orchids.

 

He said it wasn’t yet known whether these specimens were wild or cultivated. If wild, they will be transferred to the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. If not, they’ll be auctioned off.

 

Customs also found 31 longan saplings, which the Agriculture Ministry bars from export for fear of hurting the country’s fruit industry.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30346590

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-30

[JoePai]

That was silly - they should have hired a boat to take them over

[BuaBS]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Customs also found 31 longan saplings, which the Agriculture Ministry bars from export for fear of hurting the country’s fruit industry.

Yeah , they wouldn't want cheap imports.

[Shaunduhpostman]

Sad that Laos has to import what it already has in these orchid species and species that are easily grown if one can be bothered to pay attention to a few requirements and stick to them. I would guess the longans as well.