Rhino Horns Hidden in Meat Busted in Bangkok

On February 9, 2026, Thai authorities at Suvarnabhumi International Airport arrested a 36-year-old Vietnamese man for allegedly smuggling more than 11 kilograms of rhino horns. The valuable contraband was found hidden inside wrapped meat within a polystyrene icebox in his checked luggage. Irregularities in an X-ray scan led to the discovery by airport personnel and police. This incident has been linked by officials to an international wildlife trafficking network.

The man was reportedly traveling from Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with transit stops in Ethiopia and Thailand, before heading to Laos. The seized items, consisting of six pieces of rhinoceros horn and approximately 12 kilograms of unidentified meat, have been sent for forensic examination. All five rhino species are protected under international law, and trade in their horns is banned.

If convicted, the suspect faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to one million baht ($32,000). Thailand frequently serves as a major transit point for smugglers dealing in endangered species, supplying lucrative black markets across Asia. The exact value of the seized horns and the type of meat used for concealment are still under investigation.