Alleged UAE Animal Smuggler Escapes Thailand

[webfact]

Alleged UAE animal smuggler escapes Thailand

BANGKOK, May 31, 2011 (AFP) - A man who was arrested as he attempted to smuggle a luggage-load of live endangered animals on a first class flight out of Thailand has escaped from the country, immigration police said Tuesday.

Noor Mahmood, a 36-year-old citizen of the United Arab Emirates, was detained on May 13 by undercover officers at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport with the animals -- all aged under two months -- in his cases.

They included four leopard cubs, a Malayan sun bear, a baby marmoset and a baby red-cheeked gibbon, according to wildlife campaign group Freeland.

Mahmood was charged with smuggling endangered species out of the kingdom and released on a 200,000 baht ($6,600) bail, but he left Bangkok on a May 23 flight to the UAE, immigration police told AFP.

Freeland called for Thai and UAE collaboration to continue with the case.

"Thai police did a great undercover operation to nab Mr Mahmood just as he was about to board his first class flight to Dubai," said the group's director Steven Galster.

"But since he was caught red handed and charged, we want to know why he is not being prosecuted?"

If he had been convicted in Thailand, Mahmood faced up to four years in jail and a 40,000 baht ($1,300) fine, police earlier said.

Thailand is home to some of the world's largest wildlife trafficking operations and Freeland is campaigning for the government to pass stronger laws against them.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-06-01

[Soutpeel]

When a foreigner gets bailed in Thailand do the police not hold their passport, to make sure they turn up for the court case ?

or was this a case of money changing hands to allow the smuggler to "escape" as he may have named his Thai "contacts" in this case ?

[jalansanitwong]

The smuggler mentioned to the press that he would be released and sent home because he has influential friends in governement. Politicans are probably involved in this business just like they have a finger in every pie.

[Tropicalevo]

When a foreigner gets bailed in Thailand do the police not hold their passport, to make sure they turn up for the court case ?

or was this a case of money changing hands to allow the smuggler to "escape" as he may have named his Thai "contacts" in this case ?

The first thing that happens when a foreigner gets arrested is that the passport is taken from them. (Usually so that the press can photograph it for the newspaper articles the next day!)

Now I am not saying that money exchanged hands here nor am I suggesting that the Thai police did anything inappropriate, but it is a tad strange that the suspect was given his passport back (or did he have two passports?)

[NoBrainer]

One of the press stories said that he Bragged about having Strong Ties to an Ex-Politician living in Dubai.

I wonder who that might have been and how he may have influenced the release?

The smuggler mentioned to the press that he would be released and sent home because he has influential friends in governement. Politicans are probably involved in this business just like they have a finger in every pie.

Edited June 1, 2011 by NoBrainer

[kokesaat]

"Now I am not saying that money exchanged hands"

Can I?

[pacovl46]

"But since he was caught red handed and charged, we want to know why he is not being prosecuted?"

because he paid his fuc_king way out. that's why. it's pretty obvious isn't it??? it also shows how important protecting animals is in thailand!!!

[samurai]

One of the press stories said that he Bragged about having Strong Ties to an Ex-Politician living in Dubai.

I wonder who that might have been and how he may have influenced the release?

The smuggler mentioned to the press that he would be released and sent home because he has influential friends in governement. Politicans are probably involved in this business just like they have a finger in every pie.

If he had ties to one or the other why he should tell the press about it?

[PepeLePew]

He was smuggled out in a Tiger cub's suitcase!

[SabaiBKK]

When a foreigner gets bailed in Thailand do the police not hold their passport, to make sure they turn up for the court case ?

or was this a case of money changing hands to allow the smuggler to "escape" as he may have named his Thai "contacts" in this case ?

The first thing that happens when a foreigner gets arrested is that the passport is taken from them. (Usually so that the press can photograph it for the newspaper articles the next day!)

Now I am not saying that money exchanged hands here nor am I suggesting that the Thai police did anything inappropriate, but it is a tad strange that the suspect was given his passport back (or did he have two passports?)

many people have 2 passports including journalists and people with double nationality .... still how did he get past the customs without entry stamp and regardless of the biometrics and cameras at the immigration counters .... i wonder!

[TAWP]

Welcome to Thailand.

[Soutpeel]

still how did he get past the customs without entry stamp and regardless of the biometrics and cameras at the immigration counters .... i wonder!

Easy.... There are no real customs checks departing the country.....and besides customs wouldnt be interested....Its immigration who check the passports...

And which "biometrics" are we talking about ?

Who is to say he went out on flight...maybe crossed a land border somewhere...money handed over to smooth the process...

[hughben]

What a joke Thailand is at times.

[wolf5370]

200k bail - I wonder how much a single leopard cub would go for in the UAE? An obvious flight risk, he should not have been given bail - maybe house arrest at best - but why not put him in the pokey until trial.

Thailand continues to make itself a laughing stock in the world - a banana republic kingdom that sells its justice openly like an ugly whore with a drug habbit.

[Crushdepth]

A man who was arrested as he attempted to smuggle a luggage-load of live endangered animals on a first class flight out of Thailand has escaped from the country, immigration police said Tuesday.

It's kind of amusing to see this thread directly underneath another one called "Corruption spreading like a plague".

[swillowbee]

A man who was arrested as he attempted to smuggle a luggage-load of live endangered animals on a first class flight out of Thailand has escaped from the country, immigration police said Tuesday.

It's kind of amusing to see this thread directly underneath another one called "Corruption spreading like a plague".

... I sometimes wonder just why any farang comment on articles as this anymore ... but one comment is necessary ... "Thailand = Corruption" ... want a more detailed discussion? ... okay ... how about, "THAILAND = CORRUPTION, THAILAND = CORRUPTION, THAILAND = CORRUPTION" ... and, "THAILAND = CORRUPTION".

[anotheruser]

still how did he get past the customs without entry stamp and regardless of the biometrics and cameras at the immigration counters .... i wonder!

Easy.... There are no real customs checks departing the country.....and besides customs wouldnt be interested....Its immigration who check the passports...

And which "biometrics" are we talking about ?

Who is to say he went out on flight...maybe crossed a land border somewhere...money handed over to smooth the process...

The article itself said he caught a first class flight out of Thailand.

[Soutpeel]

still how did he get past the customs without entry stamp and regardless of the biometrics and cameras at the immigration counters .... i wonder!

Easy.... There are no real customs checks departing the country.....and besides customs wouldnt be interested....Its immigration who check the passports...

And which "biometrics" are we talking about ?

Who is to say he went out on flight...maybe crossed a land border somewhere...money handed over to smooth the process...

The article itself said he caught a first class flight out of Thailand.

Where in the article does it say he escaped from Thailand on a first class flight, ? he was caught on a first class flight trying to smuggle the animals out orginally., arrested then bailed, then escaped from Thailand, but there is not no mention of how he escaped while on bail

[PepeLePew]

still how did he get past the customs without entry stamp and regardless of the biometrics and cameras at the immigration counters .... i wonder!

Easy.... There are no real customs checks departing the country.....and besides customs wouldnt be interested....Its immigration who check the passports...

And which "biometrics" are we talking about ?

Who is to say he went out on flight...maybe crossed a land border somewhere...money handed over to smooth the process...

The article itself said he caught a first class flight out of Thailand.

Where in the article does it say he escaped from Thailand on a first class flight, ? he was caught on a first class flight trying to smuggle the animals out orginally., arrested then bailed, then escaped from Thailand, but there is not no mention of how he escaped while on bail

The article states he left on a flight on May 23rd. Doesn't say whether it was 1st class or whether the poor lad had to suffer in economy though.