Indian Woman Arrested Attempting to Smuggle Wildlife at Don Mueang Airport

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture of arrest.

 

Authorities at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok announced on 6 March, that have successfully intercepted an illegal wildlife smuggling attempt, leading to the arrest of an Indian woman on March 2.

 

The woman, identified as 44-year-old Ms. Maina, was attempting to transport protected animals out of Thailand aboard AirAsia flight FD 137, bound for Bangalore, India.

 

The arrest followed a tip-off from AirAsia staff, who alerted the authorities to suspicious activity. Upon inspecting the woman’s luggage, officials discovered three protected animals concealed in her bags. Among the smuggled creatures were a Common Spotted Cuscus, a type of marsupial and two Marmoset Monkeys, which were hidden in various compartments. The Cuscus was found in a woven basket, while the monkeys were concealed in a foam box with ventilation holes.

 

Ms. Maina has been charged with several offences, including attempting to export protected wildlife without proper authorisation under Thailand’s Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, illegally transporting animals out of the country under the Animal Epidemic Act, and attempting to export restricted goods without customs clearance under the Customs Act.

 

This successful interception is part of a broader effort by the government to tackle wildlife trafficking, in line with directives from Dr. Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. The ministry has been cracking down on all forms of illegal wildlife trade, including illegal pet breeding, online commerce, cross-border trafficking, and smuggling.

 

Authorities have followed the established legal procedures to detain the suspect, and further investigations are ongoing. This case highlights Thailand’s commitment to combating wildlife trafficking and enforcing strict wildlife protection laws.

 

The wildlife will be returned to authorities, and legal proceedings against Ms. Maina are set to continue.

 

-- 2025-03-07

 

[hotsun]

Third worlders produce some really wacky stories