VIDEO: 21-year-old Indian man tries to smuggle fox, pythons, raccoon, iguanas from Bangkok airport, arrested
A combo image shows the animals tightly packed in plastic baskets.
An Indian man was taken into custody at Thailand's main airport for attempting to smuggle out a menagerie of live creatures, among them a white desert fox, pythons and a raccoon, officials said Wednesday.
The authorities said that man was leaving Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport Tuesday night en route to Chennai.
The Southeast Asian is a major transit hub for animal smugglers — who often sell them to China and Vietnam — although recent months have seen an uptick in flows to India.
The man has been identified as 21-year-old Abilash Annaduri.
Abilash was found with 17 live creatures of six species, the authorities said.
The creatures also included two iguanas, three monitor lizards and eight marmoset monkeys.
The sneaky man hid the animals in his luggage, tightly packed in plastic baskets.
He was caught when the baggage passed through X-ray machines at Suvarnabhumi airport.
Prasert Sonsatapornkul, a Division Director at the Thai Conservation Department said, ``Authorities arrested a man trying to smuggle animals to India." He also said that in recent months an increase in trafficking to India has been noted.
The police said that the creatures would be worth around 98,000 baht (around $2,760).
The authorities raised concern over the fact that the animals came into the country.
There are no microchips on these creatures and it is difficult to know where they come from.
Abilash has been charged with wildlife smuggling and detained for questioning by police.
The rescued animals were sent for medical check-ups.
