According to a July 3rd announcement from the Wildlife Enforcement Network of Thailand (WEN), security personnel at Suvarnabhumi Airport discovered three ball pythons hidden inside mesh bags tucked into the pants of a Sri Lankan passenger named Shehan on July 2nd.
Authorities had received a tip-off the previous day about a Sri Lankan passenger with a history of wildlife smuggling arriving in Bangkok shortly after midnight. WEN, in collaboration with other agencies, closely monitored Shehan, suspecting he was engaging in smuggling activities again.
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Three ball pythons the Sri Lankan man concealed in his pants. Image: SCMP |
Three ball pythons the Sri Lankan man concealed in his pants. Image: SCMP
Ball pythons are listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and are prohibited from being transported across borders without a permit.
The suspect could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to one million baht (approximately 30,900 USD), or both, for illegally transporting wildlife. Shehan could also be charged with illegally transporting goods without a customs permit, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a 20,000 baht (620 USD) fine, or both.
This is not Shehan's first arrest for smuggling endangered animals. He was arrested in Colombo, Sri Lanka last year in a seizure of various wildlife, including wolves, meerkats, cockatoos, flying squirrels, porcupines, and salamanders.
Shehan had reportedly booked a Thai Airways flight departing on the evening of July 2nd. After X-ray scans of his luggage revealed nothing suspicious, authorities conducted a physical search and discovered the three non-venomous ball pythons hidden in his underwear. The Sri Lankan national was detained for further investigation.
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The Sri Lankan passenger (in white) being questioned at the airport after authorities discovered the ball pythons. Image: Thailand Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation |
The Sri Lankan passenger (in white) being questioned at the airport after authorities discovered the ball pythons. Image: Thailand Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
Thailand has long been considered a major transit hub for wildlife smuggling, catering to the demand for exotic pets on the black market. One watchdog group reports that over the past three years, over 7,000 live and dead animals have been seized just on the Thailand-India air route.
In June, Indian customs intercepted at least three instances of animal smuggling from passengers returning from Thailand. The most recent incident occurred on 29/6, with 16 live snakes confiscated.
Mai Phuong (SCMP, AFP, Bangkok Post)
