Thais arrested for ivory smuggling

“Two Thais were arrested yesterday after police investigated a tip-off from the U.S. and found the pair was involved with the illegal ivory trade,” Police Lieutenant Colonel Thanayos Kengkasikij told AFP.

“They were involved with smuggling ivory from Africa to send to the United States and were charged with wildlife trading and smuggling,” he said.

If found guilty, the pair face a maximum of four years in prison and fines of up to 40,000 baht (US$1,150) under Thailand's wildlife laws, and up to 100,000 baht (US$2,950) under its Customs Act.

The arrests also follow a year-long investigation by Thailand's environmental crime police with assistance from international wildlife organizations, including the Bangkok-based Freeland campaign.

Thailand is a commonly-used transit point for smugglers, said Freeland director Steve Galster.

“Traffickers have been moving large amounts of endangered species across this region's borders for far too long,” Galster said in a statement.

“Successful enforcement actions like this demonstrate that wildlife criminals operating in Southeast Asia need to watch their backs,” he added.

The global illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth US$10-30 billion annually, according to Freeland.

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