Couple arrested for selling rare animals

Doves and snakes among the creatures found at the Nakhon Si Thammarat property are a protected species.

Couple arrested for selling rare animals
After a few was detained at their home in Thung Song city of Nakhon Si Thammarat state on Friday, police pictured protected animals that were taken from them. ( Photo: Nujaree Rakrun )

A man and his wife were detained by police on Friday in Naghon Si Tammarat on suspicion of selling endangered wildlife, including lizards and birds, online.

Officials from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division detained Thossaporn Rattanakot, 29, and Natthakarn Prappairee, 26, at their home in Thung Song city.

Additionally, authorities found some unusual animals, including grey-capped green doves and sunbeam snakes.

According to Pol Col Apisan Chaiyarat, commander of sub-division 5, the pair were wanted on an arrest permit for selling protected species in violation of the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act.

He claimed that after finding the couple posting messages using their Twitter name on a Facebook account for lovers of unique animals, investigators had located them.

Therefore, a police officer posed as a consumer to speak with them, setting the stage for their imprisonment when they responded.

Pol Col Apisan said the couple had sold the animals by email to customers who lived in Thailand and worldwide including the United States, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, Belgium and Indonesia.

He continued,” The couple gave their all to the charge when they were brought to the Kapang police place.”