Thai customs seize 600 cobras from smuggler
- 12 years ago
Thai customs officials display 600 cobras they confiscated from smugglers on Monday.
Police said a pick-up truck was stopped on Monday night at a customs checkpoint some 120 kilometres south of Bangkok.
Authorities believe the wild snakes were smuggled into the country through the southern border with Malaysia.
The truck was believed to be heading north towards the Laos border.
(SOUNDBITE) (Thai) DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM DEPARTMENT, THEERAPAT PRAYURABIDDHI SAYING:
"At the moment, countries are concentrating on stopping illegal wildlife smuggling and trading, especially through Thailand as passageway. Thai customs is doing our best to follow the illegal activities, by investigating and stopping the smuggling."
Cobra trading is illegal in Thailand.
The country is party to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species, aimed at protecting endangered animals.
Police said a pick-up truck was stopped on Monday night at a customs checkpoint some 120 kilometres south of Bangkok.
Authorities believe the wild snakes were smuggled into the country through the southern border with Malaysia.
The truck was believed to be heading north towards the Laos border.
(SOUNDBITE) (Thai) DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM DEPARTMENT, THEERAPAT PRAYURABIDDHI SAYING:
"At the moment, countries are concentrating on stopping illegal wildlife smuggling and trading, especially through Thailand as passageway. Thai customs is doing our best to follow the illegal activities, by investigating and stopping the smuggling."
Cobra trading is illegal in Thailand.
The country is party to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species, aimed at protecting endangered animals.