Police seize 200 pangolins bound for China

BANGKOK, Sept 8 (TNA) - Police seized more than 200 pangolins smuggled in a ten-wheel truck in Bangkok and the driver was arrested for further investigation.

Uthai Kaewpatima, 36, was arrested when police were tipped-off about pangolin smuggling. The police searched his canvas-covered truck and found 214 pangolins in 41 plastic containers.

Mr. Uthai said he was hired for Bt70,000 baht to drive the truck from the southern province of Surat Thani to park at a market in suburban Bangkok. However, he said he didn't know what was in the truck.

Police believed that the pangolin smuggling gang gathered protected animals from the forest in Surat Thani to deliver to China as an exotic delicacy in specialised restaurants. Some gourmets like to
consume pangolin as people believe that the animals are as good as aphrodisiac.

The seized pangolins will be later sent to Khao Kiew Zoo in Thailand's eastern province of Chon Buri.

TNA