Thai couple arrested for illegal wildlife trade in Surin province

Police arrested a Thai couple involved in the illegal wildlife trade, confiscating two tiger cubs, two pairs of Thai elephant tusks, and 26 pieces of African elephant tusks worth millions of baht. Efforts are underway to rescue an additional four tiger cubs.

The operation, led by Director of the National Parks Office Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn and officers from Dom Police Station in Surin province, was carried out yesterday. Officers, led by Police Colonel Yuthana Jaturat, successfully planned and executed a sting operation to apprehend the couple.

The suspects, identified as 49 year old Karit and 48 year old Manat, were caught with the contraband at a roundabout in Ban Lantae, Theparak subdistrict. Police had been tracking the illegal wildlife trade network for some time, which was known for its long-standing reputation in the area. The plan involved negotiating the purchase of eight tiger cubs after the suspects posted about selling tiger cubs and ivory in a private Line group.

To gain the suspects’ trust, the officials arranged for the illegal goods to be transported from Mukdahan province to the rendezvous point. However, it is believed that the main suspect became suspicious and instructed the couple to deliver only two tiger cubs and a portion of the ivory instead.

Police inspected the designated location and found a grey Mercedes-Benz sedan with registration number ฐฐ 7245 Bangkok. Inside the car, they discovered a pair of tiger cubs, approximately two to three months old, confined in a cage in the back seat. They also found two pairs of large Thai elephant tusks, each weighing 50 kilogrammes, valued at 20,000 baht per kilogramme, totalling over 2 million baht.

Additionally, 26 pieces of African elephant tusks, weighing 49.8 kilogrammes and worth millions of baht, were found packed in fertilizer bags in the car’s boot. The couple was immediately detained and brought in for questioning by the Dom Police Station about the origin of the seized items.

Legal action

During the interrogation, the suspects claimed that the tiger cubs were not theirs and had been left in their care along with the African elephant tusks. They asserted that they had documentation for the Thai elephant tusks but did not provide it to the police and refused to offer any useful information. The investigation is ongoing to identify and apprehend the main suspect behind this operation.

Initially, the couple was handed over to Police Lieutenant Samart Klongdee at Dom Police Station to face charges for possessing and trading wildlife without permission, violating the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act 2019.

“We have been monitoring this network for a long time. It is a very large network, and this seizure is just the beginning. It is crucial not only to apprehend the suspects but also to ensure the survival of the tigers. This is only a small part of what the suspects are involved in. I must thank our dedicated and self-sacrificing team.”

Efforts are being made to locate and rescue the remaining four tiger cubs. The two seized cubs will undergo health checks and be cared for according to standard procedures.

Regarding the Thai elephant tusks, the suspects claimed to have evidence of their acquisition but this was not provided. The tusks had stickers attached, which would need to be verified to determine their legitimacy, reported KhaoSod.