Police arrested a suspected smuggler selling tiger hide and animal skin products in a crackdown on wildlife traffickers in Thailand.

Authorities stormed the home of Chit Pasutangkura, 35, on November 19 in Nakhon Sawan province, where he had been fashioning grotesque bags and wallets out of the protected predators.

Officers seized a gruesome haul, including three large tiger pelts left to dry out in the sun, 44 tiger skin pieces, 18 tiger skin bags, nine tiger skin belts, 22 bear-claw keychains, four snake-skin bags, and sewing equipment. The home was allegedly used as a workshop and storage site for the illegal trade.

Police Major General Watcharin Phusit, commander of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, said: 'This operation follows the arrest of two traffickers of Asian golden cat carcasses in Bangkok last January, where police discovered Asian golden cat carcasses.

'We have since dismantled parts of a network that processes protected animal carcasses into high-end goods sold online.'

Chit reportedly admitted to running the business since early 2024, charging 2,000 to 5,000 THB (46 to 115 GBP) for bags, 1,900 THB (44 GBP) for belts, and 250 THB (6 GBP) for bear-claw keychains.

The seized items will be inspected by Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Chit faces legal action for trading products made from protected animal carcasses.

Thailand is a major trafficking hub and market for illegal wildlife products due to its central location in Southeast Asia. Smugglers often target protected species such as tigers, turtles, and birds, to supply demand for exotic pets, traditional medicine, and luxury goods.

(1 GBP = 43.73 THB)