A Chinese tourist has been busted smuggling smoked bats in a suitcase thanks to the acute sense of smell of airport customs dogs in Thailand.
The unnamed tourist, who is reportedly from Kunming, a city in south-western China’s Yunnan Province, was busted trying to smuggle the bats through Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and into Thailand on 8th November.
The Thai authorities reportedly confiscated 2.5 kilogrammes (5.5 lb) of smoked bats as well as 2.5 kilogrammes of smoked pork knuckles and 4.5 kilogrammes (9.9 lb) of smoked pork belly.
The Thai Director General of the Department of Livestock Development said in a statement on Thursday, 10th November, that the tourist was busted by “Inspector Beagle” and that they were concerned that the items might contain infectious diseases.
They added that the confiscated items had been sent to laboratories for testing before they are destroyed.
(Department of Livestock Development/Newsflash)
(Department of Livestock Development/Newsflash)
The Department of Livestock Development also said that “the ‘Inspector Beagle’ Sniffer Dog Team (DLD-Quarantine and Inspection Canine unit) at Suvarnabhumi Airport Animal Quarantine Station, was working to investigate the smuggling of animals carcasses. both at arrivals and departures at the Suvarnabhumi Airport terminal, especially for flights from countries with risk groups, including Cambodia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Laos, Vietnam and China”.
It is currently unclear what penalties the tourist faces, but the Department of Livestock Development urged people “to eat cooked meat and not eat exotic animals in order to prevent diseases”.
The illustrative footage from the Director General of the Department of Livestock Development shows a beagle inspecting a package at the airport.
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Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: William McGee, Agency: Newsflash
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