Pathum Thani—
On November 29th, 2023, Thai Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Units (NED) and U.S. Marine and Wildlife animal officials captured a wildlife trader and confiscated over 500 pieces of unregistered wild animal carcasses in Mueang, Pathum Thani.
According to a report by NED officials, in January of 2023, two suspects possessed Asian golden cat carcasses in Lat Phrao, Bangkok, and were linked to a suspect trading wildlife carcasses on social media.
The police conducted further investigation and tracked down a suspect identified only as Mr. Kan, a 41-year-old wildlife trader.
During the investigation, Kan reportedly confessed that he had been an admin on social media groups for more than 2 years selling wildlife carcasses including royal tiger, leopard, black panther, and other rare tiger carcasses from other unknown sources of traders on Facebook.
Kan reportedly bought one tiger carcass for 40,000 to 50,000 baht and then sold them in separate pieces to collectors, said the police.
Initially, inquiry officers took hold of Kan for further legal process on trading and possessing protected wild animals without permission according to the court warrant.
NED officials are also planning to track down other suspects involved in illegal wildlife trading.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.