Latest news with #SuvarnabhumiAirport
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Japanese man caught smuggling live wildlife at Suvarnabhumi airport
A 53-year-old Japanese man has been arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport after attempting to smuggle live wildlife in his luggage on a flight to Osaka. The suspect, identified as Mr Michiaki, was a passenger on Peach Aviation flight MM092 bound for Kansai International Airport. Authorities became suspicious after X-ray scans revealed images resembling live animals inside his suitcase, Mr Komkrit Pinsai, chief of the Suvarnabhumi Airport Wildlife Checkpoint revealed on Sunday. A search of the baggage uncovered two Indian star tortoises, two blue-spotted tree monitors, and 21 water turtles concealed in six snack boxes. Officials confirmed that the suspect had no documentation or permits for the export of live animals. The arrest took place near Departure Gate F1 on Friday. Mr Michiaki was charged with violating multiple Thai laws, including the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act, the Customs Act, the Animal Epidemics Act, and the Fisheries Act. The confiscated animals have been transferred to the Wildlife Conservation Office and the airport's Fishery Inspection Office for care, identification, and use as evidence for legal proceedings.
Miami Herald
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Python-filled underwear and predators released in wild: See latest animal stories
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are being discovered across the planet. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses. Learn more about some recent rare animal encounters from around the world: Endangered creature — thought missing from India forest — rediscovered. See it In the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape of northeastern India, researchers have rediscovered the Asiatic wild dog, or dhole, which was thought to be missing from the region since the 1990s. This endangered species was captured on camera traps set up to monitor animal movement through natural corridors. The sighting marks the first photographic evidence of a dhole in this area. | Published June 27 | Read More | Endangered female tiger dies after fight with male during introduction at UK zoo At Marwell Wildlife in Winchester, England, a tragic incident occurred when Valentina, an Amur tiger, died after a confrontation with a male tiger named Pasha. Despite careful monitoring and preparation by zoo staff, the introduction turned fatal for Valentina, who was a beloved member of the zoo community. Amur tigers are critically endangered. | Published July 2 | Read More | Bulge in man's underwear at airport turns out to be 3 pythons, Thai officials say In a bizarre smuggling attempt, a Sri Lankan man was caught at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport with three ball pythons hidden in his underwear. These snakes, requiring special permits for transport, were discovered during a body search after a tip-off about the man's activities. | Published July 3 | Read More | 'Argentina's top aquatic predator' released in wild for first time. 'Huge win' In northeastern Argentina, giant river otters, known as the country's 'top aquatic predator,' have been reintroduced into the wild after being locally extinct for about 40 years. Conservationists released a family of otters into the Iberá Wetlands, marking a significant milestone in the species' recovery. | Published July 4 | Read More | Rare 'golden' creature filmed sneaking through Thailand forest. Watch it prowl In the forests of Khao Luang National Park, Thailand, a rare sighting of the Asian golden cat, or Temminck's cat, was captured on a trail camera. These medium-sized wild cats are known for their striking golden coats and elusive nature, typically hunting at night. | Published July 8 | Read More |
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Pregnant Brit ‘mule' Bella Culley's drug trial in Georgia POSTPONED over ‘evidence issue' as dad tells her ‘stay strong'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PREGNANT Brit "mule" Bella Culley's drug trial in Georgia has been postponed over "evidence issue". Bella from Billingham, County Durham, appeared at Tbilisi City Court for a brief hearing after she previously denied charges of possession and trafficking marijuana and the narcotic hashish. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 11 On Bella's first court appearance she announced she was pregnant 11 Thai police have now released CCTV footage of the Brit going through the automated gates at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand Credit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress 11 Cops said cannabis was found wrapped in air-tight bags in Bella's luggage Credit: Unpixs 11 Bella Culley seen in court at the beginning of July as her devastated family watched on Credit: Supplied 11 The court heard there were issues surrounding evidence that must be resolved. Bella's heartbroken dad, who was present in court, told her to "stay strong". Her next hearing is scheduled for 24 July. Bella claimed baggage containing the cannabis was carried to the airport for her and put in the plane's hold when she boarded a flight from Bangkok in May. Her family launched a missing person hunt in Thailand after she vanished on holiday but she turned up under arrest 4,000 miles away in the European nation. Then on her first court appearance she announced she was pregnant. CCTV footage of Bella was released, which cops say rubbishes her claim she was coerced into transporting the £200,000 drug stash. Police Major General Cherngron Rimphadee said a few weeks ago: 'This matter is not complicated. 'Police have reviewed CCTV footage and confirmed that she used a British passport to exit through the automatic passport control channel. 11 Police confirmed she she used a British passport to exit Thailand Credit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress 11 The Brit told a court she was tortured into trafficking £200,000-worth of cannabis by evil crimelords Credit: Facebook 11 She was caught at Tblisi International Airport with 30 pounds of marijuana and hashish in her luggage on May 10 Credit: Prime Time 'As a result, she did not interact with or speak to any immigration officers and simply exited the country.' Thai authorities say Bella's claims of seeking help from customs staff are "absolutely baseless". Surveillance shows the teen, from Billingham, Teesside, apparently passing calmly through Suvarnabhumi Airport's automated gates without raising any red flags. 'There is no evidence whatsoever that any immigration or police officers forced or threatened the suspect to smuggle drugs out of the country,' Lt. Gen. Choengron said. 'It was a deliberate departure.' The footage had reportedly been shared with media outlets in an attempt to debunk Bella's courtroom testimony in Tblisi, where she claimed she "didn't want to do this" and was allegedly forced under torture. Bella's lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, claimed corrupt Thai police officers were in on the trafficking ring and that when Bella turned to one for help, she realised he was part of the gang. Salakaia alleged she and her family were threatened with beheading if she didn't comply. He went on to claim that "They told her: we know the addresses of your parents, we know where your 16-year-old brother is", before showing her a video of a person being beheaded. 11 Cannabis was found wrapped in air-tight bags in Bella's luggage, police said 11 Bella May Culley claims she was coerced into transporting £200k worth of cannabis Credit: NCJ Media 11 Bella has said she never touched the drugs found in her suitcase Credit: Facebook The court was also shown a scar on her arm which Salakaia said was inflicted before the suitcase containing the drugs - which she allegedly never touched - was given to her. But Thai police say it's all an attempt to wriggle out of punishment. Officials believe the teen's high-stakes tale is part of a strategy to secure a lighter sentence in Georgia. The Georgian prosecution has charged her with "illegally purchasing and storing a particularly large amount of narcotics" and "illegally importing them into the country". Bella currently faces up to 20 years or even life behind bars if convicted. The teen, who now claims she is 18 weeks pregnant, was previously seen online bragging about "getting up to criminal activities" and flashing thick wads of cash. Thai cops said she would now be blacklisted for entering the country "to commit a drug offence", citing a breach of Section 12 of the Immigration Act.
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Pregnant Brit ‘mule' Bella Culley's drug trial in Georgia POSTPONED over ‘evidence issue' as dad tells her ‘stay strong'
PREGNANT Brit "mule" Bella Culley's drug trial in Georgia has been postponed over "evidence issue". Bella from Billingham, County Durham, appeared at Tbilisi City Court for a brief hearing after she 11 On Bella's first court appearance she announced she was pregnant 11 Thai police have now released CCTV footage of the Brit going through the automated gates at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand Credit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress 11 Cops said cannabis was found wrapped in air-tight bags in Bella's luggage Credit: Unpixs 11 Bella Culley seen in court at the beginning of July as her devastated family watched on Credit: Supplied 11 The court heard there were issues surrounding evidence that must be resolved. Bella's heartbroken dad, who was present in court, told her to "stay strong". Her next hearing is scheduled for 24 July. Bella claimed read more on bella Her family launched a missing person hunt in Thailand after she vanished on holiday but she Then on her first court appearance she . CCTV footage of Bella was released, which cops say Police Major General Cherngron Rimphadee said a few weeks ago: 'This matter is not complicated. Most read in The Sun 'Police have reviewed CCTV footage and confirmed that she used a British passport to exit through the automatic passport control channel. 11 Police confirmed she she used a British passport to exit Thailand Credit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress 11 The Brit told a court she was tortured into trafficking £200,000-worth of cannabis by evil crimelords Credit: Facebook 11 She was caught at Tblisi International Airport with 30 pounds of marijuana and hashish in her luggage on May 10 Credit: Prime Time 'As a result, she did not interact with or speak to any immigration officers and simply exited the country.' Thai authorities say Bella's claims of seeking help from customs staff are "absolutely baseless". Surveillance shows the teen, from Billingham, Teesside, apparently passing calmly through Suvarnabhumi Airport's automated gates without raising any red flags. 'There is no evidence whatsoever that any immigration or police officers forced or threatened the suspect to smuggle drugs out of the country,' Lt. Gen. Choengron said. 'It was a deliberate departure.' The footage had reportedly been shared with media outlets in an attempt to debunk Bella's courtroom testimony in Tblisi, where she claimed she "didn't want to do this" and was Bella's lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, claimed corrupt Thai police officers were in on the trafficking ring and that when Bella turned to one for help, she realised he was part of the gang. Salakaia alleged she and her family were He went on to claim that "They told her: we know the addresses of your parents, we know where your 16-year-old brother is", before showing her a video of a person being beheaded. 11 Cannabis was found wrapped in air-tight bags in Bella's luggage, police said 11 Bella May Culley claims she was coerced into transporting £200k worth of cannabis Credit: NCJ Media 11 Bella has said she never touched the drugs found in her suitcase Credit: Facebook The court was also shown a scar on her arm which Salakaia said was inflicted before the suitcase containing the drugs - which she allegedly never touched - was given to her. But Thai police say it's all an attempt to wriggle out of punishment. Officials believe the teen's high-stakes tale is part of a strategy to secure a lighter sentence in Georgia. The Georgian prosecution has charged her with "illegally purchasing and storing a particularly large amount of narcotics" and "illegally importing them into the country". Bella currently faces up to 20 years or even life behind bars if convicted. The teen, who now claims she is 18 weeks pregnant, was previously seen online bragging about "getting up to criminal activities" and flashing thick wads of cash. Thai cops said she would now be blacklisted for entering the country "to commit a drug offence", citing a breach of Section 12 of the Immigration Act. Inside the dark world of Brit 'drug mules' A SLEW of drug mule arrests involving Brits have emerged in the last few months. In April and May, Bella was the first after she allegedly tried to smuggle a suitcase of weed into Georgia. Meanwhile, former air stewardess Her two suitcases were said to have been stuffed with 46kg of a synthetic cannabis strain known as kush — which is 25 times more potent than opioid fentanyl. If found guilty, South Londoner Charlotte could face a 25-year sentence. As a young mum was detained in Germany for allegedly smuggling cannabis in her bags on a flight from Thailand - in yet another shocking case. Glamorous Cameron Bradford, 21, from Knebworth, Herts, was detained at Munich Airport on April 21 as she tried to collect her luggage. It comes as a Brit couple claiming to be tourists from Thailand have been busted with more than 33kg of cannabis in their suitcases at a Spanish airport. The pair were picked out by suspicious cops at Valencia Airport after displaying a 'nervous and evasive attitude' and are now behind bars on drug trafficking charges. Experts told The Sun how wannabe Brit Insta stars are being lured by cruel gangs into carting drugs across the world. Then last month, a six-year-old British The lad was picked up by customs officials along with his mum and five other Brits as they arrived on the tropical island. Authorities branded the
Metro
07-07-2025
- Metro
New CCTV emerges as Thai police rubbish Bella Culley's drug torture claims
A Thai police chief has disputed Bella May Culley's defence that she was tortured into smuggling drugs as he presented CCTV of her 'calmly' walking through passport control by herself. Bella Culley, 19, from Billingham, County Durham, faces life in Georgian prison after being arrested at Tbilisi International Airport on May 10 for allegedly smuggling a large amount of illegal drugs in her suitcase from Thailand. Her lawyer, Mr Malkhaz Salakaia, said Bella, from Billingham, County Durham, had been threatened with a hot iron to force her into trafficking 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish. But Lieutenant General Choengron Rimpadee said that 'there is absolutely no factual basis to her claims' while presenting airport CCTV footage showing Bella walking through passport control at Suvarnabhumi Airport. He added: 'There is no evidence whatsoever that any immigration or police officers forced or threatened the suspect to smuggle drugs out of the country.' It came after the teenager broke down in tears at Tbilisi City Court, as she pleaded not guilty to charges of possession and trafficking illegal drugs. Bella, who is 18 weeks pregnant, showed her scarred wrist to the court, telling the judge: 'I did not want to do this. I was forced to do this through torture. 'I just wanted to travel. I am a good person. I am a student at university. I am a clean person. I don't do drugs.' Mr Salakia said the teenager was not aware of what was in her luggage and she had allegedly tried to approach a policeman for help but he was part of the criminal group too. He said: 'She was instructed to fly to Georgia – she did not even know where Georgia was located geographically.' He claimed his client was told she would be met by people in Tbilisi airport but she was instead intercepted by a customs officer. Culley was detained for 52 days while prosecutors investigated the origins of 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish found in her travel bag. Judge Lela Kalichenko has denied her bail, with the next hearing scheduled for July 10. MORE: Boy, 8, found being raised by dogs and can only communicate by barking MORE: NHS opens first ketamine clinic for children as young as 12 MORE: British man reported missing in Cambodia found in jail accused of drug smuggling
