The man was stopped at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday after a body search revealed three ball pythons, stored in net bags, hidden on his person. The suspect, identified only as Shehan, was apprehended by the Thailand Wildlife Enforcement Network (WEN), authorities said in a Facebook post on Thursday.
Authorities received intelligence on Tuesday that a Sri Lankan man with a history of animal trafficking had arrived in Bangkok shortly after midnight that day. The WEN coordinated a multi-agency monitoring effort, tracking Shehan’s movements on suspicion of wildlife smuggling.
Ball pythons are classified as a species listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. They cannot be exported or imported without an official permit.
For attempting to export wildlife without permission, the suspect may face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to 1 million baht (US$30,900), or both.
He also may be charged with attempting to export goods without a customs permit, punishable by up to one year in prison, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both.
This is not the first time Shehan has been caught attempting to traffic exotic animals internationally. According to the Bangkok Post, background checks revealed he was arrested last year in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in relation to a case where officials seized a range of wildlife which included wolves, meerkats, cockatoos, sugar gliders, porcupines and iguanas.
