Picture courtesy of NBT

A 34-year-old South Korean man has been arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport after allegedly attempting to smuggle 410 live wild animals into Thailand in his luggage. The arrest took place on 12 February 2026 during a joint Customs Immigration Quarantine (C.I.Q.) operation targeting wildlife trafficking and forestry-related offences. Authorities seized tarantulas, scorpions, dwarf geckos and centipedes concealed inside a hard-shell wheeled suitcase.

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Mr Daeyoung Kwak was detained at the international arrivals customs exit B, in the green channel designated for passengers with nothing to declare. He had arrived on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET628 at 12.30pm, travelling from Moi International Airport (MBA) in Kenya via Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) in Ethiopia, with a final destination of Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Thailand. The arrest was carried out by wildlife checkpoint officials in coordination with customs officers, passenger service customs, the Investigation and Suppression Division of the Customs Control Section at Suvarnabhumi, and officers from Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division Sub-Division 2.

According to Mr Komkrit Pinsai, head of the Wildlife Checkpoint at Suvarnabhumi Airport, officers discovered a total of 410 live specimens during a baggage inspection. The seized animals comprised 104 tarantulas, 136 scorpions, 160 dwarf geckos and 10 centipedes. All were hidden inside a single hard-sided suitcase with wheels.

Authorities charged the suspect under Section 23 in conjunction with Section 93 of the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019) for importing controlled wildlife without permission. He also faces charges under Sections 242 and 252 in conjunction with Section 166 of the Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017). The case has been handed over to investigators at Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station for further legal proceedings.

The confiscated wildlife has been transferred to the Forest and Plant Conservation Research Office for care, species identification and forensic examination as part of the case file. Officials said the operation formed part of ongoing surveillance measures to prevent illegal wildlife trafficking at international entry points.

NBT reported that investigations and legal proceedings will now continue in accordance with Thai law. Authorities have not released further details regarding potential penalties or any others connected to the case.

Key Takeaways

• A South Korean passenger was arrested on 12 February 2026 at Suvarnabhumi Airport with 410 live wild animals in his luggage.

• The seized animals included 104 tarantulas, 136 scorpions, 160 dwarf geckos and 10 centipedes.

• The suspect faces charges under Thailand’s Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act 2019 and Customs Act 2017.

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Join the discussion?

  Adapted by ASEAN Now NBT 14 Feb 2026

Go big or go home?

Neither for this bozo.

I don't get it. Aren't all of those animals present in Thailand already? It seems like bringing sand to a beach. What was the motive here?

2 hours ago, tai4de2 said:

I don't get it. Aren't all of those animals present in Thailand already? It seems like bringing sand to a beach. What was the motive here?

There are over a 1000 species of Tarantula in the world and the 82 species of Dwarf Geckos are only found in Africa, Madagascar and South America.

Collectors want the "desirable" variety, invariably one that is not "common" in their homeland, and are willing to pay top price for it.

Thailand is notorious as a main distributor for illegally trafficked animals, so it is also very likely that it was merely the intended market place from where they would be sold on to another country.

So tipped off (the staff) or just random check & got lucky? Wildlife officials that's a new 1 but either way he deserves whatever punishment he gets charged for