Thai Customs Seize US$60,000 In Contraband Indonesian Coral

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Thai Customs seize US$60,000 in contraband Indonesian coral

BANGKOK: -- (TNA) Thai Customs Department officials seized more than 800 pieces of rare and protected corals and sea anemones smuggled from Indonesia, worth about Bt2 million (US$60,000 ), a senior official of the Customs Department said on Tuesday.

Customs Department deputy director-general Kornsiri Pinnarut told a news conference that it confiscated 858 corals, sea anemones, giant clams, cowries and sea fans weighing some 300kg altogether.

Customs officials found the items during a search at a Thai Airways International warehouse, she said.

According to the customs official, Siriporn Umphu from Kalasin province in the northeast imported the items from Indonesia on March 1, giving false information that they were ornamental fish.

Officials initially believed that corals were destined to be sold at Bangkok’s biggest Chatuchak weekend market and Siriporn will be summoned to report to the police on charges of providing false information to import forbidden items into the kingdom without permission and violating the 1992 Wildlife Preservation

and Protection Act.

The Customs Department has made arrests in three cases and seized exhibits worth more than Bt142 million (over $4 million) since October 2009. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-03-02

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[Colabamumbai]

Now that is two airline warehouse busts in a week, one with ivory and one with coral. If I was in charge of customs I would be going through every airlines warehouse with a fine tooth comb as I am sure this is just a sample of what lies hidden in those crates. I would be offering a bonus to my staff for big finds, coral or ivory their choice.

[TigertheCat]

I agree,common sense says to inspect every warehouse,problem is there must be thousands of containers to go through.

How do other countries manage this task

[Colabamumbai]

I agree,common sense says to inspect every warehouse,problem is there must be thousands of containers to go through.

How do other countries manage this task

By xray machines. Except for Dubai they let everyone out with stomachs full of condoms of heroin, or ice in their suitcases. Just ask Bangkok Customs. More How do I say this politely, people from Pakistan and Bangladesh, Nigeria just to name a few,should be reading this forum before they end up doing 25 years at the Bangkok Hilton. Yet I do sympathize with some, the food at the Hilton here is better than having to eat the flies that congregate around your mouth in some of their home countries, while they are trying to eat.