Woman arrested for wildlife trafficking as 130 poisonous frogs found in luggage

30 January 2024 , 12:01

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The frogs were found inside film cannisters in the woman's bags (Image: Bogota's Environment Secretary/A)

A woman was found attempting to smuggle around 130 poisonous frogs in her luggage in an airport in Colombia.

The little amphibians were found inside film canisters in the Brazilian woman’s bags as she was headed to Sao Paulo via Panama. The woman has been charged with wildlife trafficking after the discovery at Bogota airport this week.

Bogota Environment Secretary Adriana Soto said in a video the woman had claimed she had been given the Harlequin frogs, which measure at less than five centimetres, as a “gift”. Many of them were found to be dehydrated after their mistreatment.

They are usually found in forests between Ecuador and Colombia, as well as other countries in central and South America. The trafficking of live animals and their parts is common in the area.

Bogota Police Commander Juan Carlos Arevalo said: “This endangered species is sought after in international market.” He added collectors pay as much as $1,000 (£780) for each of the amphibians.

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Some of the discovered frogs from the woman's bags (Bogota's Environment Secretary/A)

In 2022 two women were arrested in Thailand after attempting to smuggle in more than 100 live animals - including snakes, armadillos and porcupines - inside their luggage. The pair were caught red-handed at Bangkok’s international airport on June 27, after checking into their flight. Upon going through security, X-ray scans of their bags revealed the women stuffed two armadillos, two porcupines, 20 snakes, 35 turtles and 50 chameleons between them - totalling to 109 creatures.

The animals were found to be suffering from dehydration, and the two iguanas had perished before they were able to be rescued. Both armadillos were found dehydrated but alive after being removed from one of the suitcases.

A haul of this size, Sathon Konggoen, the chief of Suvarnabhumi airport’s wildlife inspection office, said is unusual at an international airport. He said: “Animal trafficking is usually detected at the Thai-Myanmar borders and domestic airports to a certain extent.”

Antony Clements-Thrower