"Why Are They Moving Like That?" Caught Before Boarding: 30 Turtles Taped Around Body

Placed in Cloth Bags and Taped Across the Body
29 Indian Star Tortoises Found Alive, 1 Dead
High Prices in the Illegal Wildlife Trade Market

A Taiwanese national attempting to smuggle endangered turtles concealed on their body was apprehended on the spot at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.

On May 3, Yonhap News TV, citing Thai media outlets such as the Bangkok Post and The Thaiger, reported that a Taiwanese passenger scheduled to board a flight to Taipei was caught on April 29 at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand on suspicion of wildlife smuggling.

A Taiwanese national attempting to smuggle endangered turtles hidden on their body was arrested at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by The Thaiger

At the time, officials from the airport's wildlife inspection station, customs, and environmental crime investigation unit detected suspicious behavior from the passenger while inspecting the security screening area of the departure terminal. Upon conducting a thorough search, they discovered 30 Indian star tortoises hidden in various parts of the passenger's body. The investigation found that the passenger had placed the tortoises in a cloth bag and taped them to their body. The turtles had been wrapped to restrict their movement; at the time of discovery, 29 out of 30 were alive, while one had already died. The confiscated tortoises were immediately transferred to a wildlife rescue center for treatment and protection.

The Indian star tortoise is a species well known for its star-shaped shell patterns and has been targeted for illegal capture and trafficking due to high demand for exotic pets. This species is listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which restricts international trade without permits. Wildlife experts point out that tortoises are frequently used for smuggling, either hidden in airline luggage or on the body, because they are relatively small and do not move much during transport.

The Indian star tortoise is a species well known for the star-shaped patterns on its shell, making it highly sought after by those looking for exotic pets. As a result, it has been targeted for illegal capture and trafficking. This species is listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which restricts international trade without proper permits. The Thaiger

In particular, rare reptiles tend to fetch high prices in the illegal pet market, creating a strong incentive for organized capture and trafficking. Thai authorities are investigating the woman for violations of the Wildlife Protection Act and Customs Act in connection with this incident. They are also considering the possibility that the crime was not merely an individual act but may have been linked to an international wildlife smuggling ring, and are further examining the smuggling route and the possibility of accomplices.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.