Teen with 30 tortoises under clothes nabbed at Thai airport

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BANGKOK: Thai authorities at Suvarnabhumi Airport arrested a 19-year-old Taiwanese woman after discovering 30 protected tortoises taped to her body. The suspect was attempting to board a flight to Taipei when officials noticed her ‘unusual movements’ at the departure terminal.

Upon searching her, wildlife officers found Indian star tortoises 29 alive and one dead strapped to her body with adhesive tape and cloth bags to evade security scanners.

The seized animals are valued at approximately $9,000 on the black market, where they are highly prized as ‘exotic pets’. Thailand remains a significant transit hub for the illegal wildlife trade, and these tortoises are strictly protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

The woman has been charged with illegal animal transport and evading customs, while investigators look into potential links to a larger smuggling network.

Photo Credits: AFP