Two Japanese tourists were arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport for allegedly trying to smuggle forbidden wildlife to Nagoya.
Customs officials took Naoki Hiraguchi, 39, and Toshikazu Kawai, 39, into custody about 11am following the seizure of many exotic animals found hidden in their suitcases.
The seized animals included four capybara, 110 pig-nosed turtles, 21 snakes of unknown species, 5.7 kg of golden tree snakes and nine geckos. The capybara were listed on the customs sheet as "woodchucks".
Khanit Isadul, a senior customs official who led the search, said the two Japanese men confessed that they had bought the animals at Chatuchak weekend market for about 500,000 baht. They reportedly claimed they wanted to raise exotic animals at home and give some to their friends as souvenirs. The seized animals were destined for Nagoya.
Authorities initially pressed charges of trying to smuggle prohibited species in violation of Section 27 of the Customs Act against the suspects before handing them over to the Suvarnabhumi police station for legal proceeding.
The seized animals would be handed to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and other relevant agencies, said Mr Khanit.