PUBLISHED: 23 Jan 2025 at 18:45
The National Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division ( NED ) has searched a house where rare birds were raised in Thailand’s Nakhon Pathom province following the seizure of two red pandas worth millions of baht in Nonthaburi.
Sheriff NED captain, Pol Col Arun Wachirasrisukanya, on Thursday said a jury subpoena was obtained to research the home in tambon Thap Luang of Muang area.
The research resulted from the arrest of two dark penguins at another property belonging to Suphawat Weerawongwiwat in Nonthaburi.
In the Nakhon Pathom home, police discovered around 100 unusual birds and hummingbirds. Officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation ( DNP ) were brought in to determine the origin of the exotic birds and assist in the investigation.
The search was conducted in the presence of the servant who was only identified as Mr Witoon.
He said he was hired by the home owner, a gentleman named Ball, to take care of the house for him. He insisted the birds were legitimate and that Mr Ball did present officers with the allows afterwards.
Authorities said Mr Witoon admitted the two red panda seized from the Nonthaburi home came from the Nakhon Pathom house. The creatures were sold to the Nonthaburi home owner for 4. 3 million ringgit.
The officers added the DNP may become verifying all related paperwork collected in evidence.
Red pandas are native to regions that include north Nepal, Bhutan, India, Myanmar and southern sections of China. The International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN) lists them as endangered, with fewer than 10,000 remaining in the wild.
Police from the National Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division ( NED ) search a house where rare birds were raised in Nakhon Pathom. ( Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham )