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Published on February 1, 2008

Samai Phimtha, 36, and Watthana Phorkhachang, 35, met That Phanom police in Nakhon Phanom province and admitted to smuggling protected animals and their carcasses. They have been detained without bail.

The men said they were paid Bt50,000 by a man named Ahmad based in Yala for each smuggling run, which they had done many times.

Forestry official Thepnimit Sripanya said smugglers had called him and threatened to snatch the 250 pangolins that are still alive out of the 275 seized. Some had offered bribes for the animals.

The carcasses were burnt on Wednesday after they began decomposing. The live pangolins have been moved to Phoo Pha Yol National Park in Sakon Nakhon for better protection. They were seized in Nakhon Phanom.

The Nation