On May 14, 2025, the Royal Thai Police’s Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, with vital lead information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement Bangkok Regional Attaché Office, conducted a successful operation against a transnational wildlife trafficking network operating between Indonesia and Thailand.
During the operation, authorities intercepted an attempt to smuggle two infant orangutans into Thailand for illegal sale. Thai national Tannasit Chotraweeamornchai, 47, was arrested at a Bangkok gas station as he prepared to hand over the animals to a buyer. Both orangutans - one about a year old, the other just a month - are now in protective care with Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The youngest is receiving medical attention in an incubator, while the older has been transferred to a sanctuary.
This case underscores the significant role of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in combating wildlife crime globally, showcasing the strength of international cooperation. The Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division, supported by our Office of Law Enforcement, the Wildlife Justice Commission in the Netherlands and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, continue to investigate the broader trafficking network and remains committed to prosecuting those involved.
Orangutans are critically endangered and protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, known as CITES, with wild populations threatened by habitat loss and poaching. Thailand remains a key transit point in the illegal wildlife trade, making these joint enforcement efforts all the more vital.
Together, we continue to make strides in disrupting global trafficking networks and protecting endangered species. If you believe you have information related to a wildlife crime, please submit your tips to our team.
