Seej AfricaSeej Africa
  • Home
  • Our Story
    • About Us
    • History
    • Mission & Values
  • Wildlife Cases in The Courts
    • Active Case Index
    • Terms and Abbreviations
    • Concluded Case Index
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • Pre 2013
  • Major Wildlife Seizures
  • West African Crime Group
  • News
    • Kenya
    • Africa
    • International
  • Commentary
  • Contact us
Reading: More than a ton of endangered pangolin scales seized in Thailand
Share
Aa
Aa
Seej AfricaSeej Africa
  • Home
  • Our Story
  • Wildlife Cases in The Courts
  • Major Wildlife Seizures
  • West African Crime Group
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Contact us
  • Home
  • Our Story
    • About Us
    • History
    • Mission & Values
  • Wildlife Cases in The Courts
    • Active Case Index
    • Terms and Abbreviations
    • Concluded Case Index
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • Pre 2013
  • Major Wildlife Seizures
  • West African Crime Group
  • News
    • Kenya
    • Africa
    • International
  • Commentary
  • Contact us
Have an existing account? Sign In
© Seej Africa. All Rights Reserved.
Seej Africa > Blog > International > More than a ton of endangered pangolin scales seized in Thailand
InternationalMajor Wildlife Seizures

More than a ton of endangered pangolin scales seized in Thailand

SEEJ-AFRICA
Last updated: 2023/08/18 at 1:27 PM
SEEJ-AFRICA Published August 18, 2023
Share
Over one tonne of pangolin scales were seized from a truck near the Thailand/Laos border. The destination is believed to have been China. The two occupants of the vehicle were arrested.
The vehicle with contraband pangolin scales was apprehended in Mukdahan province, on the border of Laos.
  • The Associated Press
Updated Aug. 18, 2023 3:57 a.m. EAT
Published Aug. 17, 2023 2:10 p.m. EAT
 
 
BANGKOK – Thai authorities said Thursday they have seized more than a ton of pangolin scales worth over 50 million baht (US$1.4 million) that are believed to have been headed out of the country through a land border.
 
The scales that cover a type of anteater were found Wednesday night in the northeastern province of Kalasin, and apparently were meant to be transported out through Mukdahan province, which shares a border with Laos, Thai police said at a news conference in Bangkok on Thursday.
 
Two male suspects, who were on a truck with the scales, were arrested and charged with the illegal possession of carcasses of protected animals, according to Ariyapol Sinsorn, the deputy chief of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division. The two men confessed to the charges, he said.
 
The pangolin scales, which have an estimated price of around 40,000 baht (US$1,129) per kilogram, are suspected to have been brought from Malaysia to Thailand, to be transported to Laos. From there, it was apparently headed for sale to clients in China, said Kamnuan Chan-anan, a regional deputy chief of the environmental crime division. He said a further investigation is being conducted to determine the route of transport.
 
The scales, displayed during the news conference in Bangkok on Thursday, were dried and contained in fertilizer sacks bearing a Chinese character and different numbers. The authorities said they suspect the numbers are used for marking the quality of the scales.
 
The amount of scales is estimated to come from at least 3,000-4,000 dead pangolins, wildlife protection official Prasert Sonsatahpornkul said, adding that the scales will be tested to find out the species of the pangolins.
 
Pangolins are endangered and it is illegal to trade them. The animal’s scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine and contain keratin, a protein also found in rhino horn, though there is no scientific proof that they provide any medicinal value. Pangolin meat is considered a delicacy in Vietnam and some parts of China.
 
Demand for pangolin scales and meat has led to rampant poaching that is decimating populations across Asia.
 
In 2017, the authorities revealed two major operations that successfully busted about three tons of pangolin scales and more than 100 live pangolins in Thailand.
The two occupants of the truck transporting over one tonne of pangolin scales

You Might Also Like

How undercover sting outwitted pangolin traffickers – BBC News

A Wildlife Crime Case in Federal Court, Lagos, Nigeria

Haiphong Seizes 7 tonnes of Ivory from Angola Shipment

Giving a voice in court to the ‘victim’ species suffering at the hands of the illegal wildlife trade – EIA

Vietnamese Court Hands Out 13 Year Prison Sentence to Wildlife Trafficker

SEEJ-AFRICA August 18, 2023 August 18, 2023
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article How undercover sting outwitted pangolin traffickers – BBC News
Next Article 1229/18 Kibera – R. vs. Menard Mulee Nthuku and Meshack Mutua Musyoki 15 kg ivory
Popular News
Embu – Two arrested with 53 kg ivory
April 2009 – 703 kg of Ivory Seized From Vehicle Travelling From Tanzania
July 2009: Jomo Kenyatta IA – Kenya seizes coffin-stashed ivory

Popular Tags

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Acquittal Bushmeat Compromised Compromise Indicators Conviction Corruption Deportation DNA Analysed JKIA Linked Seizure No Prosecution Pangolin Quashed Conviction Rhino Rosewood Sandalwood The Sheikh's West African Crime Group Linkage Withdrawn

OUR STORY

  • About
    About
  • History
    History
  • Mission & Values
    Mission & Values
  • Funding
    Funding

NEWS

  • Kenya
    Kenya
  • Africa
    Africa
  • International
    International

WILDLIFE COURT CASES

  • Active Case Index
    Active Case Index
  • Concluded Case Index
    Concluded Case Index
  • Terms & Abbreviations
    Terms & Abbreviations

CONTACT INFO

©2023 Seej Africa. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?