Tortoise smugglers held

Phnom Penh: Two Cambodian soldiers face up to 10 years in jail each if convicted for allegedly trafficking more than 300 kg. of tortoises, a court officer said yesterday.

The two men are being detained after they were formally charged with illegal transportation of the animals on Thursday, said Pen Sarath, a provincial court prosecutor. He said the two ,em had told him the tortoises were smuggled from Thailand. The two men were transporting 51 tortoises in a car from a north-western province to Phnom Penh, but were arrested in Pursat province. AP

Source: Bangkok Post – Thailand, 18-8-2007

Collected by Antoni P. Uni, Thailand 22-8-2007

So there are severe “leaks” at the Thai borders! I cannot find any comment concerning the Thai source!?!?!