Thai police stopped a truck on Thursday, carrying two tiger skins and other animal parts as it was leaving a Buddhist temple where monks have been accused of being involved in illegal wildlife trafficking, a police officer said.
Two men in the truck were arrested and charged with possession of illegal wildlife, said police Col. Bandith Meungsukhum. He said a monk travelling with them will be arrested once he is defrocked.
Over 700 vials seizedThe truck was also carrying more than 700 vials containing tiger skin as well as many tiger teeth hidden in a suitcase, said Teunchai Noochdumrong, director of the government’s wildlife conservation office. Such vials are used as good luck charms. The arrests come a day after 40 dead tiger cubs were found in a freezer at the temple.
After that discovery, officials decided to thoroughly search all vehicles and people going in and out of the temple, she said. — AP
