220 turtles seized at Suvarnabhumi
Published: 22 Sep 2013 at 17.21
Photo by Sutthiwit Chayutvoraken
Customs officials have seized 200 turtles worth about 1 million baht on the black market which were found at Suvarnabhumi airport on Sunday morning.
Paisal Chuenchit, director of the Customs Department's investigation and suppression office, said customs officials found three suitcases near Gate No.6 of the international arrival lounge at about 7.45am.
Nobody claimed the suitcases, which had no name tags on them.
Altogether 220 hamilton turtles, also called back spotted or black pond turtles, were found in the suitcases. The turtles were wrapped with brown adhesive tape.
The market prices of the fresh water turtles, which originated in Bangladesh, range between 1,000-10,000 baht each, he said.
The are classified as endanged animals by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
