Police seize 600 cobras in van

Published on 14/11/2012 00:00

Thai customs officers have seized a van full of deadly cobras at a checkpoint.

Officers believe the snakes came from Malaysia and were destined for a third country for use in traditional medicine.

Thai customs chief Benja Louicharoen said officers found 600 cobras worth about 500,000 baht (£10,000) in mesh bags inside plastic baskets in the van. Officials arrested the Thai driver after the vehicle was stopped 130 miles south of Bangkok.

The man confessed he was delivering the snakes to north-­eastern Thailand where they were to be smuggled into neighbouring Laos, police said.