Teen caught smuggling 30 tortoises under their clothes at Thai airport

by

Okay, so this is wild. I just read that airport security in Bangkok caught a teenager trying to sneak 30 tortoises under their clothes! Apparently, they had them strapped on, trying to smuggle them out of the country. Seriously, thirty tortoises! Can you imagine? It’s crazy to think someone would even try that.

As a wildlife enthusiast, it’s really upsetting to see Thailand unfortunately become known as a central point for illegal wildlife trade. It’s driven by the huge profits to be made in Asia’s black market, where endangered animals are sold for incredibly high prices. It’s a heartbreaking situation.

When a 19-year-old woman from Taiwan began the process of boarding a flight to Taipei, her behavior raised concerns with authorities, who decided to investigate. This investigation revealed a large-scale wildlife smuggling operation.

They found tortoises taped to her body

Thailand’s national park officials announced they discovered 30 Indian star tortoises hidden on a teenager. Sadly, one of the tortoises had died, but 29 were still alive.

According to the department, the suspect restrained the animals with tape, put them in bags, and then hid them on her person to avoid being discovered.

I was reading up on Indian star tortoises, and it’s pretty concerning. Apparently, they’re officially listed as vulnerable, meaning their populations are shrinking. The biggest problem? People are illegally taking them from the wild to sell as exotic pets. It’s really messed up and puts these awesome creatures at risk.

The teenager faces charges for trying to avoid customs checks and for bringing animals into the country illegally. Investigators are also looking into whether this teen is part of a bigger smuggling operation.

The 29 remaining tortoises were transferred over to wildlife conservation officials.

Read More

2026-05-03 16:48