Hai Phong (VNA) - Customs and police officersin the northern city of Hai Phong have discovered 3,446 kg of ivoryand 3,977 kg of pangolin scales hidden inside a container.
Senior Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Dong, DeputyHead of the Economic Police Division under the Police Department of Hai Phongcity, said police would launch a criminal investigation into the case ofviolations of regulations on endangered and rare animals.
The city's customs officials and police found theitems in a container at Nam Hai Dinh Vu Port, which was registered ascarrying asphalt with the receiver named as AB Plus Logistic Stock Companylocated in Hai Phong.
According to initial investigations,the container was shipped on KOTA JOHAN ship, by CMA-CMG Vietnam JointStock Company as the transport agent, and arrived at the Nam Hai Dinh Vu Porton April 12.
The container’s sender was named Ste JohnBusiness Corporation. So far, police have not found the owner of theshipment.
Senior Lieutenant Colonel Dong said whenpolice opened the container, there were asphalt-containing barrels, but ivoryand pangolin scales were hidden inside.
In Vietnam, hunting, trading, poaching andtransportation of even one pangolin carries punishment of one to five yearsimprisonment and a fine of between 500 million VND (21,500 USD) and 2 billionVND (86,000 USD).
The country banned the trading of elephant tusksin 1992. Trading, storing and transporting ivory is forbidden, with violatorsfined from 5-50 million VND or imprisoned from six months to five years.-VNS