Thai authorities have arrested a 19‑year‑old woman at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport after she was allegedly caught smuggling dozens of protected Indian star tortoises taped to her body.
Officials said the suspect, a Taiwanese national, raised suspicion due to her unusual behaviour as she prepared to board a VietJet Air flight to Taipei in the early hours of Tuesday, April 29.
A search at the airport’s departure terminal uncovered 30 Indian star tortoises — 29 alive and one dead — immobilised with adhesive tape, placed in cloth bags, and strapped to her chest, abdomen and waist in an attempt to evade detection.
Thailand’s wildlife conservation department said the animals are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and are highly sought after in the illegal pet trade, with the seized tortoises valued at about 9,000 dollars.
The suspect has been charged with illegal transportation of protected wildlife and evasion of customs controls, while investigators are working to determine whether she is linked to a wider trafficking network.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the Indian star tortoise as a vulnerable species frequently targeted for the exotic pet market.
The surviving tortoises have been handed over to wildlife officials for care and will serve as evidence in the ongoing case.
