Over 100 pangolins seized in Chumphon enroute to Nong Khai

[News Bandit]

Over 100 pangolins seized in Chumphon enroute to Nong Khai

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วันเสาร์ ที่ 26 พ.ค. 2555

BANGKOK, May 26 -- Thai Customs Department officials on Saturday rescued 138 endangered pangolins from a syndicate of wildlife smugglers and arrested one suspect in Chumphon as the scaly ant-eaters were enroute to the northeastern province of Nong Khai.

The suspect, who was identified as Chumphon resident Mr Pracha Ramai, 22, was arrested while he stopped his pick up truck at a petrol station in Chumphon.

The authorities found 138 pangolin hidden in plastic baskets.

Mr Pracha said that he had picked up the pangolins from Songkhla 's Hat Yai and planned to deliver them to a trader in Nong Khai who would resell the endangered species to the Chinese customers in Laos.

They offered to pay Bt10,000 for each pangolin as Mr Pracha said he bought them for Bt2,000 each. He was also to receive payment for the delivery of between Bt15,000-25,000.

Although their international trade is banned, the scales and pangolin meat are in high demand in Vietnam and China as medicine.

Smuggling and sale of pangolins is prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES. (MCOT online news)

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