Rhino horns worth $600,000 seized at Bangkok airport

BANGKOK, Jan 7, 2013 (AFP) - A Vietnamese man was arrested with rhino horn worth more than half a million dollars in his luggage at Bangkok's main airport, Thai officials said on Monday.

The six pieces of horn, weighing about 10.6 kilos and valued at an estimated 18 million baht ($600,000) -- are believed to have been smuggled from Mozambique, wildlife protection authorities said.

The 56-year-old suspect was detained on Sunday evening after arriving in Thailand on a flight from Ethiopia, while waiting to board a connecting flight to Hanoi.

"He left his suitcase on the baggage conveyor belt and did not check it in on purpose, so it seemed like he wanted it to be picked up by someone else," said Narongrit Sookprakarn, a wildlife official at Suvarnabhumi airport.

The man is accused of bringing protected wild animal parts and prohibited goods into the country without permission.

If convicted he could face four years in prison and a fine of at least 40,000 baht ($1,300).

Illegal hunting of rhinos has risen in recent years to meet surging demand for their horns in parts of Asia, in particular Vietnam where they are highly prized for their supposed medicinal qualities.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-01-07

update

$1.4 mln of rhino horn seized in Thailand, Vietnam

BANGKOK, Jan 7, 2013 (AFP) - More than 27 kilos of Rhino horn worth an estimated $1.4 million has been seized by airport officials in Thailand and Vietnam, official sources said on Monday.

A 56-year-old Vietnamese man was arrested on Sunday at Bangkok's main airport after six pieces of horn, weighing about 10.6 kilos, were found in his luggage, authorities said.

The same day in Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam, airport customs officers confiscated six pieces of rhino horn weighing some 16.5 kilos, the state-run Thanh Nien newspaper said.

In that case, a 33-year-old Vietnamese man admitted to smuggling the horn from Mozambique via Doha and Bangkok, it said.

Illegal hunting of rhinos has risen in recent years to meet surging demand for their horns in parts of Asia, in particular Vietnam where they are highly prized for their supposed medicinal qualities.

One hundred grams of Rhino horn costs up to $5,000 on the black market in Vietnam.

It was unclear if there was a link between the two cases.

The suspect detained in Bangkok flew into the country from Ethiopia and was due to board a connecting flight to Hanoi but left his luggage unclaimed on a baggage carousel, said Narongrit Sookprakarn, a wildlife official at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport.

He admitted to carrying the horn from Mozambique, he said.

The man is accused of bringing protected wild animal parts and prohibited goods into the country without permission. If convicted he could face four years in prison and a fine of at least 40,000 baht ($1,300).

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-01-07

Ivory much doubt he will be enjoying the next few years of his life.

Unfortunately the horns have already been sawed off the rhinos. Maybe they ought to saw this guys horn off.

Many Asians think it is the cure for no wood in the woody...

The sentence is far too light for this, given the draconian sentences for many other sentences. 10 years and a fine equivalent to the street value would be more appropriate with extra time for non-payment.

The sentence is far too light for this, given the draconian sentences for many other sentences. 10 years and a fine equivalent to the street value would be more appropriate with extra time for non-payment.

I agree, if convicted he could face four years in prison and a fine of at least 40,000 baht ($1,300)

Wow!!........Why wouldn't he try this route?

Death penalty!!!

Ivory much doubt he will be enjoying the next few years of his life.

Rhino horm isn't Ivory. I believe hair but not 100 percent sure

What a shame on how greed for money affects some people. This is not like shark fin soup, where the seas are still filled with sharks. The rhino is almost gone. Set an example of this man, and put him away for a long time.

I would like to saw a few parts off this sick individuals body

If I was going on to my final destination, I would also probably not even check the carousel in Bangkok, thinking my luggage would had been checked all the way through.

What a shame on how greed for money affects some people. This is not like shark fin soup, where the seas are still filled with sharks. The rhino is almost gone. Set an example of this man, and put him away for a long time.

And cut his nose off!!

People and their superstitions.

I suggest that one of the Rhino horns is inserted into an appropriate place on this horrible person in order to punish him and dissuade others from participating in this evil trade whilst consoling at least one of the deceased Rhinos.

hang him, don't these greedy bastards understand that if they continue this practice the animal will be no more.