Thailand arrests Maldivian for trying to smuggle banned birds

Authorities in Thailand on Tuesday arrested a Maldivian for trying to smuggle prohibited species of birds from Thailand to Maldives.

A reliable source confirmed to Atoll Times on Thursday that the Maldivian man was arrested on Tuesday while he was about to board a Bangkok Airways flight from Bangkok's main Suvarnabhumi Airport.

He was caught after Bangkok police intelligence intercepted him following a tip-off that he was trying to smuggle dangerous birds out of Thailand and scanned his luggage at the airport.

The source confirmed that he was trying to smuggle around 29 birds including 2-3 species of bids that are prohibited from export.

He was taken to a Bangkok court where he was released on bail of 150,000 baht ($440 or MVR 6,762). Bangkok police are investigating the case further.

Thai customs authorities detained three Maldivians who were trying to board an AirAsia flight that was scheduled to depart from Bangkok's Don Muang Airport in mid-March.

They had been detained for trying to smuggle poisonous frogs and spiders as well as bird eggs out of Thailand without permission.

If convicted, the three Maldivians arrested in March as well as the the man nabbed on Tuesday face at least two years in jail under Thai customs and animal welfare laws. 

The Maldivian foreign ministry is yet to comment on the matter.