Policemen surrender to face rhino-horn smuggling charge

Three policemen yesterday turned themselves in to face charges of trying to smuggle in rhinoceros horn worth about Bt12.7 million.

They are police sergeants Jakkraphan Parnprasert and Petcharit Panthaisong, and Pol Sgt-Major Samai Ratjangwang. All of them worked at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The three men tried to stop customs officials searching their bags as they exited the airport on January 6. The search revealed that one of the bags contained rhinoceros horn worth about Bt12.7 million. A further investigation revealed that the bag belonged to Pham Quang Log, a 45-year-old Vietnamese national who had just flown in from Mozambique.

He was arrested on January 6 and remains in detention.

Police have also issued an arrest warrant for Loy Jantawongsa, a Laotian who fled the scene after failing to talk officials out of arresting Pham on January 6.

Jakraphan yesterday denied that he and his two co-accused were involved in the smuggling business, but said he would only elaborate once the case got to court.