THAI POLICE STOP PICKUP TRUCK, FIND 16 TIGER CUBS

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_THAILAND_TIGER_TRAFFICKING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-10-27-08-53-37

BANGKOK (AP) -- Police in northeastern Thailand who chased a pickup truck trying to avoid a highway checkpoint found unexpected contraband in the back of the vehicle: 16 tiger cubs.

Police Col. Supakorn Khamsingnok said Saturday the driver told police he was paid 15,000 baht ($500) to deliver the cubs from a Bangkok suburb to northeastern Udon Thani province on the border with Laos.

Supakorn said police believe the tigers, packed in eight cages, were being sent outside Thailand. Thailand is a hub of the international black market for protected animals and wildlife parts, often used for traditional East Asian medicines.

The driver faces a possible four-year jail term and 40,000 baht ($1,300) fine on wildlife smuggling-related charges.

[malaise]

1. Effin' scumbags

Throw away the keys - that fine is ridiculous

[xchrom]

2. +1

[roguevalley]

3. oh god. i am zo glad those babies were saved