Thai Rangers Arrest Suspected Wildlife Smugglers, Seize 81 Macaques

On November 15th, 2025, Thai rangers have arrested two men suspected of being part of an international wildlife smuggling network. The military reported the incident after the suspects were intercepted in a car carrying 81 macaques near the Cambodian border.

Thailand is a major transit hub for wildlife smugglers, who often sell highly-prized endangered creatures on the lucrative black market in China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. A patrol stopped the vehicle on Friday afternoon in Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo province, where troops found the monkeys stuffed into blue net bags.

During questioning, the men admitted they were involved in a cross-border trafficking ring moving macaques from Thailand into Cambodia. Troops were working with police to pursue charges under wildlife-protection and narcotics laws, as methamphetamine pills and crystal meth were also seized from the vehicle.

This incident is the latest in Thailand's ongoing efforts to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade. Last year, the country repatriated nearly 1,000 highly endangered lemurs and tortoises to Madagascar after a major joint operation against trafficking. Authorities remain vigilant in disrupting these criminal networks that exploit vulnerable species for profit.