In an operation carried out by the Nakhon Ratchasima police in Thailand, 47 macaque monkeys were found placed in plastic boxes in mesh bags in a suspected vehicle’s trunk, which had been tracked. Examinations revealed that the monkeys were planned to be sent to China to be used in local medicine production. Two people in the vehicle were reportedly detained.
The captured macaque monkeys had been registered as vulnerable species protected by Thai law.
According to the Wildlife Conservation Act in Thailand, animal smugglers face hefty fines and up to 10 years in prison.