BANGKOK, Nov 11 (Bernama): A sniffer beagle helped Thai authorities to detect smuggled animal parts at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday (Nov 9).
The floppy-eared hound beagle from the Department of Livestock Development’s (DLD) Quarantine and Inspection Canine Unit was sniffing out smoked bats, pork leg and pork belly wrapped in plastic bag and hidden in a luggage.
Director-general of DLD Somchuan Ratanamungklanon said the sniffer dog discovered the smuggled animal carcasses hidden in a luggage on a flight from China’s Kunming City to Thailand on November 8.
"Sniffer dogs will be on duty to detect smuggled animal products in luggage, especially on flights from countries such as China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Laos, and Vietnam to prevent potential epidemic outbreaks such as African swine fever,” he said.
He added that smuggling animal parts and carcasses into Thailand is an offence under Section 31 of the Animal Epidemic Act which provides a prison sentence of up to two years and a maximum fine of 200,000 baht, if convicted. - Bernama
