Thai police arrested two Vietnamese nationals suspected of attempting to smuggle more than 100 kilogrammes of African ivory to Cambodia through Bangkok, officials said on Friday (August 30).
Local media said the two suspects, Vietnamese man Pham Ngoc Tuan and his wife Pham Thi Kim Chi were arrested on Thursday (August 29) at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok after customs officials found pieces of African elephant tusks in their four carry-on suitcases.
The two Vietnamese can face up to four years in prison as well as a 40,000 baht fine (approx $1300).
Thai customs said it estimates the value of the seized tusks and other ivory items to be at 16 million baht (approx $500,000).
