Dinosaur fossils sold on e-Bay

BANGKOK: -- Thai police have seized hundreds of fossilised dinosaur bones and arrested a man for selling the valuable relics through the popular Internet auction Web site, e-Bay, officials say.

Police working in conjunction with U.S. customs officials charged 25-year-old Thai businessman Piriya Watchajitpan with hiding and processing antiques for trade.

U.S. customs first got wind of the trade when they intercepted the dinosaur bones coming from Thailand, but officials said Piriya had also been shipping fossils to Britain, Canada, Hong Kong, China and Japan.

"We have been investigating this one for about eight months," Mark Robinson, a U.S. customs and immigration official in Bangkok, told Reuters on Friday.

The on-line auction of the fossils started at as little as $1,000 (524 pounds), even though scientists say they are priceless.

Piriya bought 30 large dinosaur fossils from a villager in northeast Thailand, where they were first discovered in 1976, for as little as 50,000 baht (681 pounds) to 100,000 baht.

He faces up to seven years in prison and 700,000 baht fine if found guilty.

-- Reuters 2005-02-25

Dinosaur bones and Dinosaur Eggs are sold frequently on ebay. The small bones can be bought for a few dollars and the eggs for a few hundred dollars.

The prices quoted in this news item seem inflated somewhat.

Dinosaur bones and Dinosaur Eggs are sold frequently on ebay. The small bones can be bought for a few dollars and the eggs for a few hundred dollars.

The prices quoted in this news item seem inflated somewhat.

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The news wouldn't be as interesting at the real prices, maybe. Plus, cops tend to attach the highest-possible value possible for the kudos- and values are what these kinds of things are measured against in law enforcement circles, it seems.

Dinosaur bones and Dinosaur Eggs are sold frequently on ebay. The small bones can be bought for a few dollars and the eggs for a few hundred dollars.

The prices quoted in this news item seem inflated somewhat.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The news wouldn't be as interesting at the real prices, maybe. Plus, cops tend to attach the highest-possible value possible for the kudos- and values are what these kinds of things are measured against in law enforcement circles, it seems.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I had a friend who was busted for posession of a controlled substance, and the boys in blue, while checking said substance out, said about this absolute ditchweed that couldn't get a fly high, "Pretty good sh#t," and estimated its value at roughly 15x its actual price. So I guess I'm saying partly what Ajarn says up there and partly maybe they have no clue what these things are actually worth - which is of course whatever someone will pay for them. Think the boys in tight brown are spending much time on eBay?

Considering the fact that the bones are from Thailand, they are probably copies...

Dinosaur bones and Dinosaur Eggs are sold frequently on ebay. The small bones can be bought for a few dollars and the eggs for a few hundred dollars.

The prices quoted in this news item seem inflated somewhat.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The news wouldn't be as interesting at the real prices, maybe. Plus, cops tend to attach the highest-possible value possible for the kudos- and values are what these kinds of things are measured against in law enforcement circles, it seems.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

“An investigation revealed that since 1999 they had trafficked 200,000 dollars worth of fossils over the Internet,” the police statement said."

Trade worth less than a million baht per year over 5 years, according to Thai cops. Not nearly the huge business implied in the article...

Another example of incorrect facts? Who knows? Better to question everything, and everyone, in my book

Dinosaur bones and Dinosaur Eggs are sold frequently on ebay. The small bones can be bought for a few dollars and the eggs for a few hundred dollars.

The prices quoted in this news item seem inflated somewhat.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The news wouldn't be as interesting at the real prices, maybe. Plus, cops tend to attach the highest-possible value possible for the kudos- and values are what these kinds of things are measured against in law enforcement circles, it seems.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

“An investigation revealed that since 1999 they had trafficked 200,000 dollars worth of fossils over the Internet,” the police statement said."

Trade worth less than a million baht per year over 5 years, according to Thai cops. Not nearly the huge business implied in the article...

Another example of incorrect facts? Who knows? Better to question everything, and everyone, in my book

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Goodness....at this rate there won`t be any dinosaurs left

Dinosaur bones and Dinosaur Eggs are sold frequently on ebay. The small bones can be bought for a few dollars and the eggs for a few hundred dollars.

The prices quoted in this news item seem inflated somewhat.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The news wouldn't be as interesting at the real prices, maybe. Plus, cops tend to attach the highest-possible value possible for the kudos- and values are what these kinds of things are measured against in law enforcement circles, it seems.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

“An investigation revealed that since 1999 they had trafficked 200,000 dollars worth of fossils over the Internet,” the police statement said."

Trade worth less than a million baht per year over 5 years, according to Thai cops. Not nearly the huge business implied in the article...

Another example of incorrect facts? Who knows? Better to question everything, and everyone, in my book

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Goodness....at this rate there won`t be any dinosaurs left

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Best laugh today

Dinosaur bones and Dinosaur Eggs are sold frequently on ebay. The small bones can be bought for a few dollars and the eggs for a few hundred dollars.

The prices quoted in this news item seem inflated somewhat.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The news wouldn't be as interesting at the real prices, maybe. Plus, cops tend to attach the highest-possible value possible for the kudos- and values are what these kinds of things are measured against in law enforcement circles, it seems.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

“An investigation revealed that since 1999 they had trafficked 200,000 dollars worth of fossils over the Internet,” the police statement said."

Trade worth less than a million baht per year over 5 years, according to Thai cops. Not nearly the huge business implied in the article...

Another example of incorrect facts? Who knows? Better to question everything, and everyone, in my book

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Goodness....at this rate there won`t be any dinosaurs left

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Best laugh today

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

According to the Bangkok Post:

Since 1999, the suspect has also made contacts to sell a variety of artifacts including Buddha images and ancient bowls worth about $200,000.

the fossils came from several kinds of dinosaur, and comprised mainly thigh bones,shin bones, shoulder blades and teeth. Yaowalak Chaimanee, a senior department specialist, said some bones came from ancient giraffes and mastadons that lived at least 10 million years ago. Such fossils held great importance, he said, because they might be of dinosaurs undiscovered elsewhere in the world.

Looks like they've completely exagerated the importance of this bust. A few leg bones and teeth from what I'm sure will turn out to be well known species of dinosaur, and a few mastadon and giraffe bones which are ten a penny. I doubt these fossils have any scientific value, and very little monetary value. The $200,000 had nothing to do with fossils.

I don't know how the specialist can say they hold great importance because they might be of dinosaurs undiscovered elsewhere in the world. That's like saying a lottery ticket holds great importance because it might win the jackpot.

Guess it's easier to go after an amateur selling junk on e-bay than going after the big time dealers who mainly operate out of China, as that is where the most interesting and new to science specimens are being discovered.

Edited February 27, 200521 yr by konangrit

Dinosaur bones and Dinosaur Eggs are sold frequently on ebay. The small bones can be bought for a few dollars and the eggs for a few hundred dollars.

The prices quoted in this news item seem inflated somewhat.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The news wouldn't be as interesting at the real prices, maybe. Plus, cops tend to attach the highest-possible value possible for the kudos- and values are what these kinds of things are measured against in law enforcement circles, it seems.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

“An investigation revealed that since 1999 they had trafficked 200,000 dollars worth of fossils over the Internet,” the police statement said."

Trade worth less than a million baht per year over 5 years, according to Thai cops. Not nearly the huge business implied in the article...

Another example of incorrect facts? Who knows? Better to question everything, and everyone, in my book

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Goodness....at this rate there won`t be any dinosaurs left

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There will be, but all lame and toothless I think!