Quick summary: Thai rangers rescued 143 long-tailed macaques across two operations near the Cambodian border after discovering animals packed in blue mesh bags. In one case 62 macaques were hidden in a sugarcane field; later a pickup yielded 81 more and methamphetamine, and two Thai nationals were arrested. The animals, many weakened, were taken to a wildlife rescue center; authorities say the suspects said they had been hired to smuggle the primates into Cambodia. Officials warned the border region remains targeted by trafficking networks and pointed to several recent seizures.
143 Macaques Rescued in One Day — Thai Police Arrest Two After Monkeys Found in Mesh Bags Alongside Meth
Quick summary: Thai rangers rescued 143 long-tailed macaques across two operations near the Cambodian border after discovering animals packed in blue mesh bags. In one case 62 macaques were hidden in a sugarcane field; later a pickup yielded 81 more and methamphetamine, and two Thai nationals were arrested. The animals, many weakened, were taken to a wildlife rescue center; authorities say the suspects said they had been hired to smuggle the primates into Cambodia. Officials warned the border region remains targeted by trafficking networks and pointed to several recent seizures.
06:04 PM, 11/18/2025Environment
Thai rangers rescue 143 long-tailed macaques; two arrested after mesh-bag transport intercepted
Thai police and wildlife rangers on Monday intercepted two separate shipments of long-tailed macaques near the Cambodia border, rescuing a total of 143 animals packed in blue mesh bags and arresting two men after methamphetamine was also discovered in a vehicle, authorities said.
Rescue operations
In the first incident, rangers patrolling Khlong Hat District in southeast Thailand heard "unusual animal noises" coming from a sugarcane field, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) said. An inspection revealed 10 plastic baskets hidden among the cane containing 62 long-tailed macaques — 44 males and 18 females — each restrained in blue nylon mesh bags. The animals were found weakened and transported to a nearby wildlife rescue center for treatment.
Later the same afternoon in neighboring Aranyaprathet District, officers observed two men unloading blue mesh sacks from a pickup on a rural road near the Cambodian border. After a brief car chase, police arrested two Thai nationals. Officers discovered 81 additional long-tailed macaques — 30 males and 51 females — tightly packed in mesh bags inside the vehicle, along with a quantity of methamphetamine. Those animals were also taken to the rescue center for medical care.
Arrests, alleged smuggling and charges
The two suspects face charges for possessing and trading protected wildlife without permission, and for possession and consumption of illegal drugs, the DNP said. According to a police statement, the suspects told investigators they had been hired to smuggle the primates into Cambodia.
'The discovery of consecutive cases like this confirms that the border area remains a target for wildlife trafficking networks, especially for long-tailed macaques, which are in high demand internationally,' said Somruek Suppamitkrisana, director of the Wildlife Conservation Division.
Context and recent seizures
Thailand is a major transit hub for wildlife trafficking, an illicit global trade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) estimates to be worth between $7.8 billion and $10 billion annually. The DNP noted the long-tailed macaque is in demand for research and the illegal pet trade; the species faces conservation concerns in parts of its range and is subject to protection measures.
Authorities pointed to several other recent high-profile cases: earlier this year a man was arrested after two baby orangutans were discovered in a basket at a Bangkok gas station; last November nearly 1,000 endangered tortoises and lemurs were repatriated to Myanmar after an anti-trafficking operation; and in March 2024 customs officers at Bangkok airport found an endangered red panda and dozens of other animals packed in luggage bound for Mumbai.
Animal welfare and next steps
The rescued macaques are receiving veterinary checks and rehabilitation at the rescue center while investigators continue to follow leads on the trafficking network. Officials said they will pursue prosecution and international cooperation to disrupt the cross-border trade in wildlife.