Teen with 30 tortoises under clothes nabbed at Thai airport

Thai authorities arrested a teenager at a Bangkok airport for allegedly smuggling 30 protected tortoises valued at about $9,000 that were taped under her clothing, wildlife officials confirmed.



Thailand is a major transit hub for wildlife smugglers who often sell highly prized endangered animals on the lucrative black market in Asia.



Authorities became suspicious of the 19-year-old Taiwanese woman's unusual movements as she prepared to board a flight to Taipei early Tuesday,



Thailand's wildlife conservation department said in a statement.



A search at Suvarnabhumi airport's departure terminal uncovered the Indian star tortoises - 29 alive and one dead - strapped to her body.