A man was arrested in the Lat Phrao district of Bangkok last night for allegedly smuggling two baby orangutans into Thailand, in a case police believe is linked to an international wildlife trafficking network.


Police detained the suspect, identified as “Thanasit”, 47, at a petrol station on Prasertmanukit Road at about 8:30pm, while he was preparing to hand the animals over to a customer, according to a police statement.


Two infant orangutans, one about a year old and the other just one month old, were found in a plastic basket. They were wearing diapers and had a feeding bottle beside them.


One of them was seen hugging a sea lion doll in a photo released by police.

The orangutans, named Christopher and Stefan, were handed over to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation for health checks and further care.


The arrest was the result of a joint investigation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Wildlife Justice Commission.


Orangutans, native to Borneo and Sumatra, are classified as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and are protected under the CITES treaty.


Police said the apes are believed to have been sold for around 300,000 baht each.

The suspect was charged with illegal possession of protected wildlife and faces up to four years in prison if convicted.


Police said the suspect admitted that he was hired to deliver the animals, but did not disclose the amount he was paid.


Kasidach Charoenlap, a police officer with the Central Investigation Bureau and who was part of the investigation, told the AFP, "We are investigating the larger network.”

Man arrested for two baby orangutan smuggling bust in Bangko