Women reptile smugglers from India held at Thai airport with live haul

An official with an armadillo rescued from the women's luggage at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok.- Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / AFP

BANGKOK (AFP): Two Indian women have been arrested at a Thai airport attempting to smuggle more than 100 live animals including armadillos, porcupines and snakes, wildlife protection officers said Tuesday (June 28).

Thailand is a major transit hub for wildlife smugglers, with the animals often bound for Vietnam or China where they are used in traditional medicines.