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

[Jim Blue]

I'll be taking a close look at my fellow passengers on my next AA flight!

[harleyclarkey]

Why bother?

There's more than enough wild life in Pattaya,  Bangla rd Phuker, Nana Bangkok,  etc. 

[mikeymike100]

It doesn't say was this cabin baggage or not, or did I miss that?

So if it was cabin baggage she didnt think the xray scanner wouldn't be able to see the animals?

[hotchilli]

Must've looked good on the X-ray

[Rickman66]

Lucky for those critters probably would have ended up in a curry 

[NorthernRyland]

The farang hordes are bad enough but Thailand has opened a whole new can of worms with so many Indian tourists  in the country.  

[jcmj]

Will probably end up back at the market. Sad. They really need to enforce the laws there. 

[Jonathan Swift]

These people, not just Indians but a lot of Thais, are dirtbɑgs with no conscience. I see Thai people walking around with Lemurs charging 100 baht to let you pet and photograph them. You can see protected animals for sale at pet markets anywhere. Buddhist monks have been involved in illegal tiger breeding and trade for the last few decades at least. 

[PETERTHEEATER]

48 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

It doesn't say was this cabin baggage or not, or did I miss that?

So if it was cabin baggage she didnt think the xray scanner wouldn't be able to see the animals?

It looks as if she was carrying the Cuscus as hand bagage in the perforated basked show in the picture. If so, then she must have been completely ignorant of the fact that the animal is a protected species. 

[madone]

1 hour ago, mikeymike100 said:

It doesn't say was this cabin baggage or not, or did I miss that?

So if it was cabin baggage she didnt think the xray scanner wouldn't be able to see the animals?

 

Don't her pointing and the size of the bag in the picture clear that up for you?

 

30 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

It looks as if she was carrying the Cuscus as hand bagage in the perforated basked show in the picture. If so, then she must have been completely ignorant of the fact that the animal is a protected species. 

or they took the basket out of the bag.

[SAFETY FIRST]

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Indian Woman Arrested attempting to transport protected animals out of Thailand aboard AirAsia

Did they inspect her snatch for contraband. 

 

Typical female Indian hiding spot for protected animals. 

 

[nakhonandy]

Hardly the sharpest tool in the box.

Baggage gets x-rayed.

I hope she gets jail, but it will probably just be a small fine.

[cardinalblue]

The bigger suitcase should be forced to be checked in baggage and x-ray....Good bet the animals would be dead upon arrival in India....Punishment should be har5sh and not just fines...

[wensiensheng]

“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.”

 

strange. The article says it was as a result of a tip off by air Asia staff. Nothing to do with any government bs at all.

[Kinok Farang]

How dare she?

The little monkey.

[Jack Hammer]

Authorities should’ve performed a cavity search. You never know what she could hide there.

[mikeymike100]

4 hours ago, madone said:

 

Don't her pointing and the size of the bag in the picture clear that up for you?

 

or they took the basket out of the bag.

No, you are saying people don't check in small bags? Of course they do if they contain items that  you cannot pack in cabin luggage , like knives, or nail clippers etc!

[madone]

24 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

No, you are saying people don't check in small bags? Of course they do if they contain items that  you cannot pack in cabin luggage , like knives, or nail clippers etc!

no im saying the picture makes it clear she was travelling with the animals in her large bag. 

[Srikcir]

17 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

discovered three protected animals concealed in her bags

She should have tried to smuggle an ostrich.

[Taboo2]

She is a f in More Run.

[Emdog]

21 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

These people, not just Indians but a lot of Thais, are dirtbɑgs with no conscience. I see Thai people walking around with Lemurs charging 100 baht to let you pet and photograph them. You can see protected animals for sale at pet markets anywhere. Buddhist monks have been involved in illegal tiger breeding and trade for the last few decades at least. 

Maybe 9 years ago I was at Central Pattaya and took a few discrete photos, sent them off to a Bangkok based animal protection NGO. Nothing was done....

[Nairbem]

21 hours ago, Rickman66 said:

Lucky for those critters probably would have ended up in a curry 

You made my day