Two Thai Customs Officials Arrested For Smuggling

[george]

Two Thais arrested for smuggling endangered pangolins

NONG KHAI: -- Two Thais have been arrested for smuggling of almost 100 pangolins destined for gourmet meals and traditional medications in China.

Pangolins, Asian and African animals whose bodies are covered with large horny scales, are quite unusual in appearance, looking like a combination of long-snouted anteaters covered in scales like armadillos, cannot easily be mistaken for something else.

It is forbidden to trade them as they are protected creatures.

Chanchai Pratumsai, 34, a Thai government official working at the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge toll booth and his accomplice Wichian Sugonpak, 43 were arrested Friday at the bridge border checkpoint in the northeastern province of Nong Khai, bordering Laos.

Provincial Customs and Immigration officials seized a shipment of 80 live pangolins and the remains of dead animals weighing 9 kg. together with a firearm and ammunition found with them.

Mr. Chanchai confessed to having Mr. Wichian drive from Nong Khai to adjacent Udon Thani province to pick up the 14 bags containing the captured pangolins which another gang member had smuggled from southern Thailand, and then drive back to Nong Khai before transporting the animals into Laos by

passing the toll booth where he works.

He said all the animals were enroute to China where pangolin meat is used as ingredients in Chinese food and medicine. .

The two men were charged with violating laws protecting wildlife which include pangolins as endangered species.

--TNA 2006-04-07

[chuchok]

Good job!

[Pattaya_Fox]

Scaly Ant Eaters....the Chinese must have teeth like steel

[taxexile]

tracy , one of the rescued pangolins , later told reporters that they had been "....promised good jobs in china , well paid waitress jobs ,with no funny business , in respectable restaurants , and we could make enough to send back to our little pangolin families , we were completely taken in by them .

after a little sightseeing round here and maybe a trip to the night safari in chiang mai we will return to our homes down south."

Edited April 7, 2006 by taxexile

[Pattaya_Fox]

geoffrey , one of the rescued pangolins , later told reporters that they had been "....promised good jobs in china , well paid waitress jobs ,with no funny business , in respectable restaurants , and we could make enough to send back to our little pangolin families , we were completely taken in by them .

after a little sightseeing round here and maybe a trip to the night safari in chiang mai we will return to our homes down south."

Ant Slave Workers

[sunreader]

"He said all the animals were enroute to China where pangolin meat is used as ingredients in Chinese food and medicine."

Doubtless the dead animal has amazing powers to re-enable Chinese men to once again achieve a semi-hardon.