Maehongson Authorities Nab Elephant Smugglers At Myanmar Border

[george]

Maehongson authorities nab elephant smugglers at Myanmar border

MAE HONG SON: -- Two Myanmar and three Thai villagers were arrested -- and two elephants were taken into custody -- at the Salween River in northwestern Mae Hong Son province on the Myanmar-Thailand border.

The five elephant smuggling suspects were apprehended by authorities --including rangers, police, customs and forest department officials -- because they failed to produce documents for the elephant identification and a certificate of possession or purchase. They will be prosecuted for smuggling elephants into the Kingdom.

Both elephants were female; one about 40 years old and the other about one year old.

The suspects revealed that they had bought the jumbos for Bt 520,000 from Myanmar and planned to resell them to Thai investors, according to the authorities.

The officials added that elephant smuggling across Thai-Myanmar border is likely to become a serious problem. There have been reports that another seven elephants are waiting to be smuggled across the border at Mae Hong Son.

--TNA 2007-03-12

[Payboy]

guess they were spotted by the unusually large trunks

[Laulen]

One or other of the pachyderms must have made a trunk call to the authorities!

[taxexile]

made a trunk call

by elephone ?

There have been reports that another seven elephants are waiting to be smuggled across the border at Mae Hong Son.

put sunglasses on the fukcers , and the immigration people will never recognise 'em