Suspect, 22, arrested over trading wildlife online and meth dealing to 'pay for college'
A suspect was arrested in Thailand over wildlife trading and meth dealing allegedly to pay for college.
Kongkiat Lobsri, 22, reportedly sold protected animals over social media and supplied meth to youths to fund his education.
Police raided his home in Prachinburi on July 7, following reports of online wildlife sales through a private Facebook group called 'Falcon Lovers Club'.
Investigators found that Kongkiat allegedly advertised exotic animals for sale.
After obtaining a search warrant, they stormed Kongkiat's residence, where they found a small Asian mongoose, one crested goshawk, two red-wattled lapwings, and one Eurasian stone-curlew kept in cages.
Officers said the suspect was restless before hurling a plastic bag out of his window. They recovered the bag, which contained 1,995 methamphetamine pills.
The cops seized the wildlife, along with several protected bird carcasses, bird snares, steel traps, wooden cages, iron cages, bird perches and an iPhone 15 believed to be used for wildlife trafficking.
Police said Kongkiat was charged with unauthorised possession of protected wildlife and possession of Category 1 narcotics.
He allegedly admitted the charges, claiming he turned to illegal activities to pay for his tuition at a vocational school, where he recently obtained a certificate in mechanical engineering.
He said he was unable to work a full-time regular job 'because he needed to study during the weekdays'.
He allegedly confessed operating for about a year, but insisted he acted only as a middleman. He further claimed the animals found at his home were his own pets.
The 22-year-old said: 'I didn't sell the wildlife myself. I was only acting as an intermediary to receive the money. My job was to deal with customers. Once they transferred the payment to me, I sent them the animals.
'I knew what I was doing was illegal, but I never imagined it would turn into something this serious.'
Police said Kongkiat was taken to Kabin Buri Police Station for further legal action, while the rescued wildlife were moved to the Wildlife Rescue Centre 1 in Nakhon Nayok for care and rehabilitation.
Thailand is a major transit hub for animal trafficking. With its porous borders with Myanmar and Cambodia, the country is a key route for smuggled wildlife across Southeast Asia.
