A Taiwanese passenger was arrested at Don Mueang airport today, after he tried to smuggle several protected species of animal to Taiwan.
Officials manning an X-ray machine at the airport noticed something moving under the sweater being worn by the passenger, identified as Chiu Kuo-shu, as he passed through a scanner, heading for a flight to Kaohsiung international airport in Taiwan.
Customs and wildlife officials quickly arrived at the scene and the passenger was ordered to remove his sweater. When he did so, two slow loris, a squirrel, three otters and two spiny turtles in a white net were discovered wrapped around his torso.
Wildlife officials then informed the Taiwanese man that he was in possession of protected species without a permit, in contravention of the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act.
He was charged with illegal possession of protected species, attempting to smuggle them out of the country and violating the Animal Epidemics Act.
