19-Year-Old Taiwanese Tourist Caught Smuggling 30 Indian Star Tortoises at Bangkok Airport

(CNA correspondent Li Tsung-hsien, Bangkok, April 29th) A 19-year-old Taiwanese female tourist was arrested yesterday at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport while preparing to fly to Taipei, after being found with 30 Indian star tortoises hidden on her body. The Bangkok Post reported today that Komkrit Pinsai, head of the wildlife checkpoint at Suvarnabhumi Airport, stated that the passenger was apprehended at 5:25 AM due to suspicious behavior observed by airport staff. Komkrit explained that a detailed search in the security area of the airport's departure terminal revealed the passenger had taped the Indian star tortoises and placed them into cloth bags, which were then tied to her body. Authorities discovered that one of the 30 Indian star tortoises had already died. The report indicated that the Taiwanese passenger had originally planned to take a Vietjet Air flight to Taipei. Authorities stated that this species is listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and fetches a high price on the black market. The passenger has currently been detained by the airport police and charged under Thailand's Wildlife Protection Act. (Edited by Hsieh Yi-hsuan) 1150429