Officials in Thailand arrested two women at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok after they said 109 live wild animals were found in their luggage before they boarded a plane.
Sathon Khong-ngern, chief of the wildlife checkpoint at Suvarnabhumi Airport, told the Bangkok Post the animals were found Monday in two suitcases after an X-ray inspection.
Wildlife officials discovered two white porcupines, two armadillos, 35 turtles, 50 lizards and 20 snakes in the baggage, Khong-ngern told the outlet.
Police arrested Nithya Raja, 38, and Zakia Sulthana Ebrahim, 24, who were preparing to board a flight to Chennai, India, according to Khong-ngern.
Two Indian women were arrested Sunday night at Suvarnabhumi Airport trying to board a TG flight with luggages filled with protected wildlife including 20 live snakes, 2 albino porcupines, 2 armadillos, 35 turtles & 50 lizards. The flight was heading to Chennai. #Thailand#KEpic.twitter.com/5mFbQjEKSM
— Khaosod English (@KhaosodEnglish) June 27, 2022
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The women were charged with violating the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2019, the Animal Disease Act of 2015 and the Customs Act of 2017, the outlet reported.
Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation could not immediately be reached for comment.
Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 109 animals, snakes included, found in plane luggage: Thailand airport
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