Thai authorities arrested a teenager at a Bangkok airport for allegedly smuggling 30 protected tortoises valued at about $9,000 that were taped under her clothing, wildlife officials said on Wednesday. Thailand is a major transit hub for wildlife smugglers who often sell highly prized endangered animals on the lucrative black market in Asia. Authorities became suspicious of the 19-year-old Taiwanese woman’s unusual movements as she prepared to board a flight to Taipei early Tuesday, Thailand’s wildlife conservation department said in a statement. A search at Suvarnabhumi airport’s departure terminal uncovered the Indian star tortoises — 29 alive and one dead — strapped to her body, the department said. “The suspect had used adhesive tape to immobilise the animals, packed them into cloth bags and attached them to her body to evade detection,” it added. The Thai customs department said the tortoises, protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, commanded a high price on the black market, placing their total estimated value at around $9,000. The woman was charged with illegally transporting animals and evading customs controls. Authorities said they were investigating whether she was part of a wider smuggling network. Indian star tortoises are classified as a vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which says they have been targeted to meet international demand for use as “exotic pets”. The surviving tortoises were transferred to wildlife conservation officials for care and to serve as evidence.
Thai authorities have arrested a 19-year-old woman at Suvarnabhumi Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 30 protected tortoises concealed under her clothing, wildlife officials said. The suspect, identified as a Taiwanese national, was intercepted early Tuesday while preparing to board a flight to Taipei after officials noticed suspicious behaviour. A search at the airport’s departure […]
Senate Threatens Arrest of NNPCL Boss Over ₦210tr Audit Query
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Senate Confirms Yuguda as CBN Deputy Governor
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ADC Raises Alarm Over Supreme Court Delay, Warns of 2027 Election Exclusion
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2026 Hajj Inaugural Flight to Depart Ogun May 3
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Senate Advances Bill to Repeal Police Trust Fund Act
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Cleric Warns Against Vote-Buying Ahead of 2027
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Sokoto, UNFPA Train 500 Women as Midwives
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has partnered with the Sokoto State Government to train 500 young women as community midwives under a new scholarship programme aimed at improving maternal healthcare in rural areas. The initiative was unveiled at the state’s 8th Council on Health meeting, where officials said the scheme would help expand access […]
