Smuggler arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport with a rhino horn from Vietnam
In a significant development, Thai authorities have arrested a Vietnamese passenger named Thanh at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok for attempting to smuggle rhinoceros horns from Africa to Laos. The arrest and discovery took place at the airport customs check at 7.45pm on Saturday.
According to the Wild Fauna and Flora Protection Division, a search revealed five lengths of rhino horn, weighing 6.8 kilogrammes, hidden inside hollowed-out logs. The smuggled rhino horn had an estimated black-market value of 6.9 million baht.
The smuggler reportedly changed planes at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before landing in Bangkok. The smuggler's point of origin was Luanda, the capital of Angola, and the next destination was Vientiane, in Laos, according to Mr Sadudee.
The Vietnamese man was charged under the Wildlife Protection Act, Customs Act, and Animal Epidemics Act. He failed to provide valid export documents for the rhino horns.
Authorities found the suspicious items in Thanh's luggage with the help of a scanner. The Wild Fauna and Flora Protection Division announced the arrest and discovery, and a photograph of the discovery was taken by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
Mr Sadudee confirmed that the destination of the smuggled rhino horn was still Laos. The arrest is a testament to the ongoing efforts by Thai authorities to combat wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species.
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