Truckload of pangolins intercepted in Prachuap

[webfact]

Truckload of pangolins intercepted in Prachuap

By Piyarat Nildee 
The Nation

 

 

Police early Sunday morning seized 76 live pangolins – estimated combined retail value overseas Bt10 million – from a smuggler in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
 

Ratchaburi native Sompol Mekchai, 45, was apprehended in Sam Roi Yot district at 2am on Sunday after police suspected he was trying to dodge their checkpoint on the Phetchkasem Highway.

 

 

Seeing his pickup suddenly swerve onto a canal-side road 300 metres from the blockade, officers gave chase, pulled him over and searched the truck. 

 

The pangolins were bundled up in 18 mesh bags stashed in the cargo bed beneath planks of wood and other construction materials. 

 

Police claim Sompol confessed to having smuggled live pangolins three times before, earning Bt8,000 each time.

 

But he could not identify his employer, having received his orders by phone. 

 

Pickups already holding the animals were always left at a designated location for him to use. This time he collected the truck in Muang Prachuap Khiri Khan and was heading for Pathum Thani, he said. 

 

Sompol is charged with possessing protected wild animals without a permit.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30365100

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-03-04

[Lupatria]

Looks like many people have to go to bed without their daily dose of TCM.

[sammieuk1]

Wonder if the punishment will fit the hideous crime as he looks shoeless and poor  and suggest ringing the number and maybe a fat bloke with a big gun will answer ????

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

But he could not identify his employer, having received his orders by phone.

I'm sure they can trace the phone call via the provider & get on the trail of Mr. Big !!!

[lvr181]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I'm sure they can trace the phone call via the provider & get on the trail of Mr. Big !!!

Possibly a large brown envelope will preclude that from happening! A good test for Big Joke? 

[seahorse]

Overseas? China is not overseas. 

[Fortean1]

Lupatria - What is the breakout of the acronym TCM?  To me it means Turner Classic Movies; formerly on the True Visions satellite service.

 

[cornishcarlos]

I always wondered what the collective noun for Pangolins was.... Now I know, a truckload !!!

[Damrongsak]

Better headline:  Prachuap police pop pangolin purloiner in pickup.