Two arrested, 300 cobras and 500 turtles seized in Thai Northeast

NONG KHAI, Thailand, July 13 (TNA) - Thai authorities have arrested two animal smugglers and rescued 300 cobras and 569 black marsh turtles. In their Saturday's operation, the authorities in Thailand's northeastern Nong Khai province, apprehended the two male smugglers and seized the wild animals contained in plastic sacks from their pick-up truck. The wild animals, weighting altogether 1,600 kilomgrammes, were set to be transferred to a ship bound for Laos. One of the suspects confessed that he earlier smuggled wild animals and made a profit of 100,000 baht, acknowledging he chose to smuggle wild animals during the wet season because he expected it was easier with less police checkpoints. The sized wild animals will be taken care of by concerned Thai authorities. Earlier this week, Thai provincial police, region 4, nabbed a gang of animal smugglers, and rescued about 90 cats set to be shipped to neighbouring Vietnam to be served as an exotic menu. (TNA)