A 20-year-old Russian tourist was arrested in Phuket for several pieces of coral found in her bungalow. In Thailand, collecting and storing coral is prohibited by the Marine Resources Protection Act, with offenders facing a fine of 20,000 baht ($633) or a year in prison, or sometimes both.
Local residents contacted the police after spotting a Russian woman on Karon Beach attempting to clean corals with disinfectant, Interfax reports. The woman was clearly unaware she was committing a crime. Police searched her bungalow and found coral fragments soaked in bleach. The tourist is currently in custody awaiting trial.
When vacationing in exotic destinations, tourists often try to find some kind of natural souvenir—a beautiful stone, shell, sand, or coral—without considering the devastation they are causing to the local environment. Many countries prohibit the export of these items, so regular airport searches are conducted, and violators are fined.
Source: travel.ru