TAK, June 18 (TNA) – About 4,000 endangered baby turtles were seized from a passenger van at a checkpoint on Mae Sot-Tak Road.
The seizure took place in the morning when security officers found the protected animals in well sealed boxes on the van that was traveling from the Thai-Myanmar border.
Apart from about 4,000 baby red-eared slider turtles, officials also found about 600 Indian roofed turtles, about 70 baby snapping turtles and about 30 snakehead fish in a water-filled bag.
The tired animals were sent to the Fish Inspection Office of Tak province.
The van driver identified only as Sanchai said a Myanmar person had him transport the boxes to Bangkok and he did not know what were inside them. Officials believed an animal-smuggling gang was involved. (TNA)
