Two Vietnamese Arrested!

August 31, 2013

Custom Department detained two Vietnamese for smuggling elephant ivories from Ethiopia, worth 16 million baht!

BANGKOK– August 30, 2013 [PDN]; Mr.Yuthana Himkarun Deputy Director General of the Customs Department along with Deputy Director General of Department of National Park , Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department and Environment and Natural Resources jointly announced the arrest of two Vietnamese. Mr.Pham Ngoc Tuan, age 41 years and Mrs.Pham Thi Kim Chi aged 41 years were arrested for stealing 4 luggages, which contained ivory beads including 27 items a total weight of 105 kg approximately 16 million baht. They were then arrested at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport on August 29th.

The investigation officers were informed that there will be ivory smuggling passing Thailand’s. Therefore the customs control and Bureau of Customs Passenger Airport coordinated with the Suvarnabhumi Airport regarding suspicious luggage’s on the X-rays. The luggage’s were then checked to see whether it contained animal ivory.

After investigations it is found that the luggage’s have arrived from Luanda , Angola by Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 480 which landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport, so that it could be transferred to Cambodia. These four luggage’s belong to Mr Pham Ngoc Tuan and Mrs.Pham Thi Kim Chi , that hold a Vietnamese passport.

After investigation both pleaded guilty and claimed that this was their first offense. They confessed receiving 50,000 baht for smuggling, trip ticket and accommodation were separately provided. These goods will then be transferred to Cambodia which will be used to make jewelry or to be used as mixed combination in drugs. However these ivories could be sold for 150,000 – 300,000 baht.

Mr. Sermyot claims that smuggling into other countries is illegal by CITES convention on international trade of endangered species. Mr. Manophak general director of the Department of National Pars asked to cease the killing of wild animals, especially those that are under CITES.

According to the Section 24 of the Customs Act 2469 (1917) states four years imprisonment and, a fine not exceeding 40,000 baht for ivory smuggling . Accordingly, both the accusers will be questioned as for the ivories it will be sent to the Suvarnbhumi airport wildlife Department.