A 1:30pm today, natural resources and environmental crime suppression police announced the seizure of snakes, turtles and animal remains worth an estimated THB500,000.
Police said that they discovered 29 pythons, 22 turtles, 13 soft-shelled turtles, one shed snakeskin and two tiger skulls while searching a restaurant on Soi Charoen Pattana 4 in the Khlong Sam Wa District. They arrested Usa Phoopayom, the restaurant owner, for possession of wildlife without a license, and Suthat Anuwatanawichai for purchasing the snakes from Usa.
According to Dailynews, Usa confessed to police that she had bought snakes for THB200-300 per kilogram with the intention of cooking them for her customers. Also, she purchased turtles for THB30 each before reselling them to Buddhists who wanted to make merit by releasing them to the wild.
