Baby animals found in man's luggage

(Reuters)

Authorities at Bangkok's international airport in Thailand have arrested a first-class passenger whose suitcases were filled with baby leopards, panthers, a bear and monkeys. The animals had been drugged and were bound for Dubai.

The man arrested was a 36-year-old United Arab Emirates citizen.

Anti-trafficking group Freeland said the man was apprehended by undercover officers at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport as he waited to check in for his flight.

Authorities opened his suitcases and found two leopards, two panthers, an Asiatic black bear and two macaque monkeys.

Thailand is a hub for illegal wildlife trafficking, but authorities finding so many live mammals is unusual. Typical hauls are of rare tortoises, snakes and lizards.