A Mongolian man was arrested at Bangkok International Airport on Saturday as he prepared to fly with snakes, Komodo dragons and turtles in his suitcases, Thai customs officials said on Monday.
The kingdom is a notorious hub for wildlife trafficking, typically destined for large markets such as Vietnam or China, where wild animals are used in traditional medicine.
Customs officials found two Komodo dragons, six Indian star tortoises, eight iguanas, five pythons, a boa constrictor and 24 exotic fish.
The wild animals were discovered during a search of the man's luggage as he prepared for a flight to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.
Authorities charged the man with smuggling protected animals, customs officials said.
Last October, Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok suspended an airport employee after a traveler smuggled more than 30 live animals onto a flight to Taiwan.
The mobile menagerie included two baby otters, 28 baby turtles and a marmot.