A Sri Lankan man, Seehan, was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand on charges of wildlife smuggling after being found hiding three crossbars in his underwear.
According to WCIC, the suspect boarded Thai Airways' TG308 flight from Colombo to Bangkok at 0:06 on July 1. Records show that Seehan has a previous conviction for illegal trade of many wild animals such as Wolves, pangolins, strawberries and was arrested in the capital Colombo in 2024.
After receiving intelligence about the suspect's journey, the authorities have been quietly monitoring Seehan as he traveled by taxi from his Bangkok residence to Suvarnabhumi Airport at 6pm on July 2.
After Seehan completed the check-in procedure, the airport security force conducted an X-ray checking of the luggage but did not detect any illegal items. However, suspicions remained, authorities requested a direct inspection of the suspect's person and discovered 3 bickers of the ball hidden carefully in their underwear.
The species of python discovered is Python regius, also known as the ballpy python due to its habit of coiling around when threatened. This is the smallest python in Africa, with an average length of no more than 120cm for adults. They are gentle, less aggressive and are often raised as pets. However, this species is included in the list of import license requirements when introduced to Thailand.
WCIC said Seehan violated Thailand's wildlife conservation laws and was being detained for further questioning and investigation. Authorities warn that the smuggling of rare animals not only violates the law but also threatens the ecosystems and bio-security of many countries.
