Thai authorities have arrested a 19-year-old Taiwanese woman at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport after finding 30 protected Indian Star tortoises taped to her body.
The arrest took place early Wednesday morning as the teenager was about to board a flight to Taipei.
Officers became suspicious due to her stiff movements and unusual bulges under her clothes.
Upon searching her, they discovered the tortoises wrapped in cloth bags and taped to her chest, abdomen, and waist. 29 of the tortoises were alive and have been handed over to wildlife officials, while one was found dead.
The woman has been charged under Thailand’s Wildlife Protection Act and other related laws.
The protected species is highly sought after in the illegal pet trade.
By
TheTimes Nigeria
