Police, who were acting on a tip off, spotted a suspicious pickup truck inside a petrol station on Suwannasorn road in Moo 11 of the district’s Tambon Ban Na of Ban Na district.

Police checked and found 388 protected turtles, 241 monitor lizards, and 18 cobras in boxes and net bags.

Thirathat Kruaythong, 41, from Samut Prakan and Pornchai Picharn, 39, from Kalasin were arrested.

Police received tips that a gang would smuggle protected reptiles from Suphan Buri to Sa Kaew passing through Nakhon Nayok so they staked out at the petrol station where the pair was due to load the reptiles on to another vehicle.

The two admitted that they were paid Bt1,500 to drive to the spot and wait for another vehicle to take the reptiles. They said they have already done this on two previous occasions.