600 cobras seized in Thailand smuggling bust

Thai customs on Tuesday displayed 600 cobras they said were smuggled through the southern border from Malaysia.

Police said a pick-up car was stopped on Monday night at a customs checkpoint in Petchaburi province, some 74 miles south of Bangkok.

Official said the car was believed to be heading north towards the Laos border.

“At the moment, countries are concentrating (on stopping) the illegal wildlife smuggling and trading, especially through Thailand as passageway. Thai customs is doing our best to follow the illegal activities, by investigating and stopping the smuggling,” said Theerapat Prayurabiddhi, deputy director of Thai customs.

Cobra trading is illegal in Thailand following the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) list aimed at protecting endangered species.

photo/Jolle

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