Eleven live otters discovered within an abandoned suitcase at Bangkok's main airport.

In the world of international travel, customs officials often encounter the unexpected. From tropical fish hidden in an apron to exotic animals packed into luggage, the smuggling of wildlife remains a persistent issue.

In 2005, customs officials in Melbourne, Australia, made a surprising discovery: 51 tropical fish secreted away under a woman's skirt. Fast forward to 2011, and a man at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport was found to have more than just travel souvenirs in his luggage – two leopards, two panthers, an Asiatic black bear, and two macaque monkeys.

Southeast Asia, particularly, has seen its share of wildlife smuggling incidents. In 2002, a Los Angeles man travelling from Bangkok was found to have two endangered slow lorises hidden in his underwear. The same year, 11 live otters were discovered in unclaimed luggage at the oversized baggage area of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport. These otters were six smooth-coated otters and five oriental small-clawed otters, Southeast Asia's largest and the world's smallest otters respectively.

The demand for these animals is driven by factors such as their pelts, organs for clothing, food, and medicine, habitat destruction, and environmental pollution. Edward Grace, deputy chief of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, stated that someone, somewhere in the world, is poaching or smuggling wildlife on any given day.

The U.S. seizes over $10 million worth of illegal wildlife each year, according to Edward Grace. This figure underscores the global scale of the wildlife trade. In one instance, an exotic animal salesman attempting to transport 247 reptiles and spiders to Spain was caught in Argentina in 2011.

The smuggling of wildlife is not limited to land travel. News reports from the sole human survivor of a plane crash in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2010 blame the crash on a loose crocodile in the cabin. Another incident involved a crocodile smuggled on board a domestic flight from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2010, which was blamed for a plane crash that killed 20 of 21 passengers.

The list of smuggled animals is extensive and diverse, including hummingbirds, slow lorises, crocodiles, reptiles, tropical fish, big cats, and more. An exposé of the world's most notorious wildlife dealer can be found on the website's magazine, providing a deeper insight into this clandestine trade.

In conclusion, the smuggling of wildlife remains a significant issue, with incidents reported across the globe. As the demand for exotic animals continues, so does the need for vigilant customs officials and stricter regulations to protect these vulnerable species.

Eleven live otters discovered within an abandoned suitcase at Bangkok's main airport.