Thai police arrest 'kingpin' in Asian wildlife trafficking

[micromachine]

Thai police have arrested an alleged kingpin in Asia's illegal trade in endangered species, dealing a blow to a family-run syndicate that smuggles elephant ivory, rhino horn and tiger parts to Chinese and Vietnamese dealers.

Boonchai Bach, 40, a Vietnamese national with Thai citizenship, was arrested on Friday evening over the smuggling of 14 rhino horns worth around $1 million from Africa to Thailand.

His downfall follows the December 12 arrest of Nikorn Wongprachan, a Thai National Parks and Wildlife Conservation official, at Bangkok's main airport as he attempted to smuggle the rhino horn from the quarantine section to a nearby apartment.

The horn was smuggled into Bangkok by a Chinese man who was arrested a day before on arrival from Johannesburg, South Africa.

The police sting led to Boonchai, who financed the network.

"This is a major smuggling syndicate and Boonchai is a ringleader," General Chalermkiat Srivorakan, deputy national police chief, told reporters Saturday after the suspect arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport ahead of his remand.

"Boonchai admitted he was involved," Chalermkiat said, adding he faces up to four years in jail for smuggling parts of protected animals.

More at https://sg.yahoo.com/news/thai-police-arrest-kingpin-asian-wildlife-trafficking-074104168.html

 

[Patriot]

Boonchai Bach (L) is the alleged ringleader in a major syndicate trafficking in parts from endangered species used in Vietnamese and Chinese traditional medicine

 

[Patriot]

 

[Hangover]

14 rhino horns worth around $1 million

Seriously 14 for $1 million, the first thing that comes into my mind, "why china never make fake ones?"

 

[Hangover]

The rich chinks told me that the leadership in every china listed company tasted pangolin meat.
It is like a towkay must have a rolex.

 

[chonburifc]

For every small fly caught, there are 10 unknown big flies out there.