Thai police have arrested a Thai Vietnamese for his links with a case of trafficking of 14 rhino horns from South Africa to Thailand in December 2017, local media reported.

Boonchai Bach (L) was arrested on January 19. 

Boonchai Bach was apprehended on January 19 as the police expanded investigations into a wildlife animal protection official who took the horns from Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok to a nearby apartment.

General Chalermkiat Srivorakan, Vice Commander of the Thai Royal Police, said that this is a big trafficking ring led by Boonchai. He also admitted his guilt, he added. 

General Chalermkiat said that Boonchai may face four years in prison for smuggling parts of rare animals.

According to the media of Thailand, Boonchai Bach, 40 years old, aka Bach Mai, and his brother Bach Van Linh, 47, are big smugglers in the region with their coverage in both Vietnam and Thailand. 

The duos are suspected to supply tonnes of elephant’s tusks and rhino horn from Africa to traders in Vietnam, Laos and China. The gang is also the supplier of smuggled goods of Vixay Keosavang, the most famous smuggler in Southeast Asia who is hiding in Laos. In 2013, the US Government offered a reward of 1 million USD to those who provide information of Keosavang.-VNA