New Delhi: Two Indian women were arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on Monday for allegedly trying to smuggle 109 live animals in their luggage.
The animals were discovered in two suitcases following an X-ray inspection. They found two white porcupines, two armadillos, 35 turtles, 50 lizards and 20 snakes in the two pieces of luggage, said Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation in a press release.
According to Thai authorities, the suitcases belonged to two Indian women, Nithya Raja and Zakia Sulthana Ebrahim. They were due to board a flight to Chennai. The duo has been arrested and charged with violating the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2019, the Animal Disease Act of 2015 and the Customs Act of 2017.
According to a 2022 report by TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring agency, over 70,000 native and exotic wild animals were discovered in 140 seizures at 18 Indian airports between 2011 and 2020.
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