In Thailand, two people were arrested after 81 monkeys were found in a bag

The country is known as a major transit point for wildlife trafficking.

Two men who were transporting 81 monkeys in a vehicle in Thailand were arrested near the Cambodian border, local armed forces announced on Saturday, November 15. A patrol intercepted the vehicle on Friday afternoon in the eastern province of Sa Kaeo and found the primate in a blue bag, along with methamphetamine.

During interrogation, the two men admitted their participation in a cross-border trafficking network, bringing monkeys to Cambodia from Thailand, according to the armed forces. Thailand is a major transit point for the wildlife trade. Many specimens of the rare species are sold for high prices on the black market, in China, Taiwan and even Southeast Asia.

Last year, Thailand returned several dozen lemurs and more than 900 turtles endemic to Madagascar to their country of origin, after capturing them in the kingdom.