Customs office on Koh Samui seized tusks, pangolin scales

SURAT THANI, Dec 12 (TNA) -- The Customs Office at the Samui International Airport in the Thai southern province of Surat Thani confiscated African elephant tusks and pangolin scales which have the value of over 80 million baht, after smugglers tried to illegal deliver the items through an airline. Customs officials stationed at the airport inspected the cargoes of Bangkok Airways airline, flight PG964 on December 8-9 and found that one of the cargoes seemed suspicious. According to reports, the flight had left Singapore at 5.20pm and arrived on Koh Sumui island at 6.15pm, local time on December 8. The list specified that the said cargo was packed with wigs but an x-ray machines had identified the items within the cargo as African elephant tusks and pangolin scales. Authorities were able to confiscate 280 elephant tusks, weighing a total of 789 kilogrammes, and 12 bags of pangolin scales, weighing 587 kilogrammes. All of the items would have a street value of around 80 million baht, once they reach their destination. Investigation revealed that the flight had an origin of departure from Nigeria and had gone through then Thailand with the final destination being Lao PDR. The name of the cargo sender is Akinwande Shangodare and the receiver was written as KNT Trading Ltd in Lao PDR. The evidences have now been secured by Thai authorities for further prosecution under the violations of the Thai Customs and Wild Life Protection acts, as well as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). (TNA)