Border patrol troopspatrollingthe border area in Sa Kaeo province found 51 crab-eating macaques tied in mesh bags abandoned in the middle of a sugarcane field. They are urgently coordinating with relevant authorities to assist. It is suspected to be the work of illegal wildlife trafficking groups preparing to smuggle the animals out of the country.
At 07:00 on 13 Mar 2026 GMT+7, the Burapha Task Force, through the Aranyaprathet Special Unit, ordered local forces, specifically Border Patrol Company 1204, to deploy personnel to patrol and prevent illegal activities along the border area under their responsibility near the sugarcane fields between the Nong Prue Village checkpoint, Moo 7, Phan Suek Subdistrict, Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province. This location is about 300 meters from the Thai-Cambodian border.
During the patrol, officers discovered blue mesh bags placed along a natural passage within the sugarcane field.The bags appeared suspicious.Officers conducted a thorough inspection and found many crab-eating macaques tightly bound together inside. A total of 51 macaques were counted: 32 males and 19 females.
A surrounding search found no suspects or animal owners. Officials believe illegal wildlife trafficking groups temporarily left the macaques at this spot to prepare for smuggling them out of Thailand through natural border routes.
After discovery, border patrol troops rescued all the macaques from the scene and transported them back tothe location ofBorder Patrol Company 1204 for temporary care. They also coordinated with relevant agencies to jointly inspect the animals' condition, including officials from the Office of Conservation Area Administration 1 (Prachinburi), the Ang Rattanakosin Forest and Wildlife Protection Unit, and the Aranyaprathet Wildlife Checkpoint, to conduct examinations and enforce applicable wildlife protection laws.
Following the inspection, border patrol troops proceeded tohand overall 51 crab-eating macaques to officials from the Office of Conservation Area Administration 1 (Prachinburi) for care, rehabilitation, and to follow legal procedures regarding protected wildlife.
Officials believe this incident is related toa networkof transnational illegal wildlife trafficking that often uses border areas and natural routes to smuggle wildlife out of the country. The Burapha Task Force and security agencies continue to intensify patrols, inspections, and interventions along the border to prevent wildlife trafficking and all forms of illegal activities..