Teen arrested at Bangkok airport for smuggling 30 tortoises
Thai authorities have arrested a 19-year-old Taiwanese woman at a Bangkok airport for allegedly smuggling 30 protected tortoises. Officials became suspicious due to her unusual movements as she prepared to board a flight to Taipei. The tortoises, mostly alive, were found taped under her clothing and are valued at about $9,000. The woman now faces charges related to illegal animal transport and customs evasion.
What we know
- Thai authorities discovered 30 Indian star tortoises, 29 alive and one dead, strapped to the suspect’s body.
- The 19-year-old Taiwanese woman allegedly used adhesive tape and cloth bags to hide the tortoises under her clothing.
- The animals are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and are highly valued on the black market.
- The woman was charged with illegally transporting animals and evading customs controls.
- Authorities are investigating if she is part of a larger smuggling network, and the surviving tortoises have been handed over to wildlife conservation officials.
