Officials planned and launched a raid to arrest two Myanmar nationals in the parking lot of a well-known shopping mall in Mae Sot, seizing a “black leopard” intended for delivery to Chaw Gok Go. They were paid 25,000 baht and claimed they thought it was a “black cat.”
At 15:30 on 9 April 2026, reporters reported that under the direction of the Central Investigation Police Commander, the Commander of the Division for Combating Natural Resources and Environmental Crimes, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Attapol Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, and related officials planned a sting operation to arrest a cross-border wildlife trafficking ring in the parking lot of a shopping mall in Mae Sot District, Tak Province. They detained two Myanmar nationals, Mr. So and Mrs. Khin, and seized evidence. A 7-month-old “black leopard.” It was about to be smuggled out to a neighboring country.
This operation began on 6 April after receiving a tip about protected wildlife being transported via a private shipping company in Bangkok, initially declared as a “cat.” “Cat.” However, upon inspection, it was found to be a 7-month-old “black leopard,” a rare protected wild animal, believed to be linked to the “Chinese Grey” investment group. Authorities used a controlled delivery technique to trace the mastermind ordering the transport, arranging a handover of the black leopard at a shopping mall parking lot in Mae Sot District, Tak Province.
The handover was scheduled for 8 April at 10:00. Officials observed a foreign-registered vehicle with two Myanmar nationals, Mr. So and Mrs. Khin, who came to receive the black leopard’s cage to prepare for border crossing into Myanmar. Officials immediately revealed themselves and arrested the suspects, confiscating the vehicle and mobile phones as evidence.
Further investigation revealed the syndicate operates as a large network with masterminds spread across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar. They communicate via Facebook to find handlers to transfer shipments from the Cambodia border through Thailand, ultimately destined for Chaw Gok Go, Myanmar.
During the arrest, Mr. So and Mrs. Khin denied wrongdoing, claiming they thought the animal was a “black cat.” “Black cat.” They said they were hired to deliver it to an acquaintance in Myawaddy in exchange for 25,000 baht. However, authorities remain skeptical due to the complex nature of the operation and its links to wildlife crime networks. They are being charged with unlawful possession of protected wildlife under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act, B.E. 2562 (2019).
The Director-General of the Department of National Parks has assigned all three agencies to continue investigating and expand the case to bring all involved parties, both at the source and destination, to justice under the law.
Officials from the Department of National Parks noted that the black leopard is very tame, likely raised by humans from a young age, which has altered its behavior, making it impossible to release back into the wild. It will be cared for at the Khao Pratab Chang Wildlife Breeding Station in Ratchaburi Province for life. Ecologically, one black leopard is valued at up to 4 million baht as a predator that maintains forest balance.