Crime Highway Police Seize Indian Star Tortoises and Arowana Fish Worth Over 2 Million Baht

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Highway police in Songkhla province have intercepted a wildlife smuggling attempt, seizing protected Indian star tortoises and rare arowana fish with an estimated street value exceeding 2 million baht.

 

The operation was led by Pol. Col. Intharat Panya, Superintendent of Highway Police Division 7, along with Pol. Lt. Col. Manaswee Kadasae, Deputy Inspector Pol. Lt. Akom Chookanerd, and Pol. Lt. Wisut Thinnukul. Acting on intelligence, officers set up a checkpoint in front of the Chana Highway Police Service Unit, on Highway 43, kilometre marker 29, in Pa Ching subdistrict, Chana district, Songkhla.

 

Authorities had received a tip-off about a transnational wildlife smuggling network attempting to conceal protected species inside sealed foam boxes labelled as ornamental fish. The contraband was being transported on a long-distance passenger coach, marked as running the Su-ngai Kolok to Koh Samui route.

Shortly thereafter, officers flagged down a coach matching the description and initiated an inspection. The vehicle was being driven by a man identified as Mr Ananchai. Upon searching the luggage compartment, officers discovered three sealed white foam boxes wrapped in brown adhesive tape, identical to those described in the tip-off.

 

Inside the boxes, they found 191 Indian star tortoises (Geochelone elegans) and 12 fish resembling red arowanas (Scleropages formosus), a species prized in the exotic pet trade. The fish were stored in four plastic bags filled with water.

 

During questioning, Mr Ananchai claimed he had merely been asked to deliver the boxes, which had been dropped off at the Su-ngai Kolok bus terminal in Narathiwat province, with instructions to deliver them to an individual at Khlong Hoi Khong junction in Hat Yai district. He stated he had no knowledge of the contents.

 

Initial investigations confirmed that the Indian star tortoise is a protected species under Thailand’s Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act. Arowana fish, meanwhile, require documentation under CITES regulations, including proof of legal origin and ownership.

 

All seized animals were handed over to Chana Police Station for further legal proceedings. Authorities stated they would continue investigations to identify and apprehend others involved in the smuggling operation.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-06-30