Endangered animal smuggling ring busted at Chatuchak Market
A clandestine network involved in the smuggling of endangered animals has been exposed at Chatuchak Market, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). Director-General Atthapol Charoenchansa revealed that a millionaire businessman, who collects exotic animals, attempted to import a baby gorilla from Türkiye. Details about the businessman remain undisclosed as investigations continue.
Police have initiated a crackdown at Chatuchak Market, which is implicated in the illegal trade of the gorilla. This species is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
The gorilla was trafficked inside a wooden box on a flight originating in Nigeria and was intercepted by the Customs Enforcement Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate at Istanbul Airport in Türkiye. The illicit shipment was declared as containing 50 rabbits.
Atthapol stated that the individual responsible for the order resides in Asia and is known for collecting exotic animals. Further investigations have connected the case to a shop within Chatuchak Market, which functions as a hub for the trading of exotic animals from overseas.
“When someone wants exotic animals, they go there because it has a network for importing and exporting exotic animals,” Atthapol commented.
Police investigations led by Police Major General Watcharin Phusit of the Natural Resource and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED) revealed that a pet shop, owned by TK Farm in Nakhon Pathom, is implicated in the operation. The farm, which is registered as an animal importer and breeder, was raided on December 25.
Police sought to question the farm’s owner at the shop for further details, but he failed to appear and subsequently turned off his phone. Investigations are probing whether the boxes purportedly used to import rabbits matched those containing the gorilla. The farm owner claimed the boxes were destroyed, reported Bangkok Post.
“If the farm owner is innocent, he should have come forward to the police and told us how many times he has brought animals into Thailand and what types they were,” stated Pol. Maj. Gen. Watcharin.
The police have identified the foreign suspect believed to be involved but require additional investigation. Efforts will be intensified in collaboration with the Customs Department and the Department of Livestock Development to unravel the network further.
