Thai police have arrested two men after intercepting a pickup truck carrying dozens of monkeys inside mesh bags along with methamphetamine, authorities said. The arrests came as part of two separate operations that rescued 143 long-tailed macaques in a single day.

Thailand is a major hub for wildlife trafficking, one of the world’s largest illegal trades, estimated to be worth between $7.8 and $10 billion per year, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

First Case: Sugarcane Rescue

Rangers patrolling Thailand’s Khlong Hat District, near the Cambodian border, heard unusual animal noises in a sugarcane field. They discovered 10 plastic baskets containing 62 long-tailed macaques — 44 males and 18 females — bound inside blue nylon mesh bags. The monkeys were weak and were immediately transferred to a local wildlife rescue center.

Long-tailed macaques are endangered and widely used in drug research due to their genetic similarity to humans. There is also a thriving international black market for the species.

Second Case: Border Arrest

Later that day, rangers spotted two men unloading more mesh bags from a pickup in Aranyaprathet District, also near Cambodia. After a car chase, police arrested the suspects, both Thai nationals.

Inside the vehicle were 81 more macaques — 30 males and 51 females — tightly packed in mesh bags, as well as methamphetamine. The monkeys were transferred to the wildlife rescue center for treatment.

The men admitted they had been hired to smuggle the animals into Cambodia. They now face charges for possessing and trading protected wildlife and for illegal drug possession and use.

Ongoing Wildlife Trafficking Concerns

Authorities say these consecutive cases confirm that the border region remains a hotspot for wildlife trafficking, particularly for long-tailed macaques in high international demand.

Earlier incidents highlight the problem’s scale: in March 2024, 87 animals, including a red panda, were found in luggage at Bangkok airport, and last November, almost 1,000 endangered tortoises and lemurs were repatriated to Myanmar.

Director Somruek Suppamitkrisana of the Wildlife Conservation Division emphasized that vigilance and strong enforcement are critical to protecting endangered species from traffickers.

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