US officials smash wildlife smuggling ring between Indonesia and Thailand

Police arrested two alleged animal smugglers transporting protected wildlife into Thailand.

Authorities acting on a tip-off from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service nabbed Totsaphon, 28, and Somporn, 30, while they were driving along Highway 41 in Nakhon Si Thammarat province on September 14.

Police intercepted their 'suspicious' pickup truck and found 25 boxes in the vehicle. They opened the containers and discovered 10 elongated tortoises, 11 Moluccan cockatoos, and other wildlife believed to be destined for Bangkok and other countries.

The animals were said to be exhausted and have been turned over to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Officers also seized the suspects' phones and vehicle.

Police Major Apichart Prommontri, superintendent of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, said US officials alerted them of an animal smuggling network between Indonesia and Thailand.

The suspects were reportedly sneaking wild animals through the southern province of Satun and sending them to Bangkok to be flown abroad.

He said: 'The group was importing illegal wildlife from Aceh Province on Sumatra Island, Indonesia, to Thailand. They had buyers in both Thailand and abroad. We have been monitoring this group to learn their methods and routes. We also found that among the smuggled wildlife were nearly extinct animals protected under the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act.' Totsaphon and Somporn claimed they had been hired by a man named 'Bang' to deliver the animals to Bangkok's Chatuchak Park. They will be charged with possessing protected animals without permission.

Officials said they will be expanding investigations into the smuggling ring.