Mongolian arrested trying to smuggle komodo dragons, pythons out of Thailand

The man was arrested on Feb. 17 after officials searched luggage he had checked in for a flight from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport to Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar, customs department spokesman Phantong Loykulnanta said.

The search revealed two komodo dragons, six Indian star tortoises, eight iguanas, five pythons, one boa constrictor and 24 live fish.

The authorities charged the man with smuggling protected animals, the customs department said.

Thailand is a major transit hub for wildlife smugglers, who often sell the animals to China and Vietnam.

In October 2023, Suvarnabhumi Airport suspended an airport worker after a traveler smuggled more than 30 live animals onto a flight to Taiwan.

The mobile menagerie included a marmot, two baby otters and 28 baby tortoises.