South African police arrest two Thai nationals smuggling endangered parrot eggs

South African authorities have arrested two Thai nationals for trying to smuggle parrot eggs out of the country. The first arrest happened on 16 July 2026 at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg. A 23-year-old man was caught carrying 418 eggs hidden in homemade bags that kept the eggs warm. A 50-year-old man was arrested on 20 August with 50 eggs in similar bags. Both men were travelling as normal passengers. The eggs belong to parrot species that are protected by an international wildlife agreement called CITES. Some eggs hatched successfully and the chicks received medical care. Environmental officers and police worked together on both arrests. Anyone convicted of this crime can face up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to ten million rand.