According to Seized Goods Division acting director Vorachit Deachborvornlak, initial investigations have not ruled out the probability that the seized pangolins and its highly-prized scales originated from Indonesia and were smuggled into Thailand from Malaysia.
“We strongly believe the pangolins originally came from Indonesia before they were smuggled into Malaysia and later to Thailand to be sent to Laos and China as their final destinations,” he said when contacted here today.
He said earlier, Customs officers received a tip-off on an attempt to smuggle wildlife and spotted the two pangolin-laden pick-up trucks driven by two local men in Prachuabkhirikhan about 2am.
The two men gave the Customs officers the slip under cover of darkness while the vehicles underwent a thorough search.
Nevertheless, Deachborvornlak said the authorities were confident of nabbing the suspects as they had their personal details as well as house addresses.
Deachborvornlak said of the seized pangolins, five had died.
A kilogramme of pangolin scales, according to him, could fetch about 10,000 baht (about RM1,250) upon reaching China, while a live animal will most likely end up in the kitchen of restaurants serving exotic delicacies.
So far this year, his department seized 2.9 tonnes of the nocturnal animal and its highly sought-after scales, added Deachborvornlak.