Would-be smuggler's luggage was stuffed with exotic animals

A man was arrested Thursday in Bangkok, Thailand, for attempting smuggle an astonishing array of wildlife out of the country in three large suitcases.

Airport officials became suspicious when luggage scanners revealed moving critters. Inside the bags were so many exotic animals that the scene surprised even people accustomed to dealing with illegal wildlife trafficking.

The 34-year-old suspect, an Indonesian whose name was not released, admitted to buying the animals at a market notorious for illegally peddling rare or protected species. The animals were packed within customized suitcase compartments. Of the hard-shell variety were 88 Indian star tortoises, 33 elongated tortoises, seven radiated tortoises, six Mata Mata turtles, four Southeast Asian narrow-headed soft-shell turtles, three Aldabra giant tortoises, one pig-nosed turtle and a ploughshare tortoise -- the world's rarest tortoise.

There were 34 ball pythons, two boa constrictors, several milk snakes, corn snakes and king snakes, and one hog-nosed snake.

Also in the suitcases were 19 bearded dragons, four spiny-tailed lizards, two plata lizards, six Argentine horned frogs, 18 baboon spiders (each in its own plastic container), 22 common squirrels and an African gray parrot. Some of the squirrels were already dead and it remains unclear how many of the animals might have survived the flight.

Illegal trafficking of wildlife obtained in Thailand is a serious problem. In most cases animals that are successfully smuggled become pets sold for a huge profit. The suspect, who had been attempting to board a flight to Indonesia, faces several charges under sections of Thailand's Wild Animals Preservation and Protection Act and Animal Epidemics Act.

According to a news release issued by the wildlife trade monitoring group TRAFFIC, the goods were purchased at Bangkok's Chatuchak Market. Traffic describes the market is a major hub for illegal trade in some of the world's rarest species.

William Schaedla, the group's regional director, was quick to praise airport officials for catching the suspect. But he also expressed outrage about the open availability of so many rare or protected animals.

"It speaks well of a few alert enforcement authorities when such seizures happen," Schaedla said. "However, one really has to question how Chatuchak Market, which is located just down the street from both wildlife protection and nature crime police offices, can continue these illegal mass sales.

"Frankly, the situation is totally unacceptable in a country that claims to be effectively addressing illegal wildlife trade."

Of course, the rarest animals net smugglers the highest prices. This week's bust comes less than a week after authorities in England seized eight Indian star tortoises in a parcel flown from Thailand.

-- Pete Thomas

-- Images of animals confiscated during the smuggling attempt are courtesy of TRAFFIC

-- Twitter: @Pete_Thomas