Vietnamplus

Six tonnes of smuggled ivory tusks and pangolin scales have been discovered in a container at Tien Sa Port in the central city of Da Nang.

Vietnam, though rich in biodiversity with a large number of precious, rare and endemic species, has seen a decline in the number of many rare species, requiring the country to work hard to preserve and protect them against risk of extinction.

The People’s Court of northern Hung Yen province on June 2 sentenced a man to five years and three months in jail for storing 780 kg of pangolin scales - a type of banned goods - in accordance with Clause 3, Article 191 of the 2015 Penal Code (revised and supplemented in 2017).

The US Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with Vietnam CITES Management Authority, launched a campaign on November 11 called “Ngung tao nghiep” (Stop karma), to call for an end to the illegal trade of ivory and pangolin scales in Vietnam.

The People’s Court of the southernmost province of Ca Mau has sentenced a company director to 13 years in prison and a fine of 100 million VND (4,280 USD) for organising trafficking of rare and endangered wildlife.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has urged all districts to conduct programmes on smart city development, with specific targets, roadmaps and implementation measures suited to the characteristics of individual locality.

Customs officers in the northern port city of Hai Phong have seized more than two tonnes of ivory tusks and pangolin scales, Radio The Voice of Vietnam (VOV) has reported.

Singapore said on July 23 that the country had seized 8.8 tonnes of elephant ivory, a record haul by Singaporean authorities.

Customs and police officers in the northern city of Hai Phong have discovered 3,446 kg of ivory and 3,977 kg of pangolin scales hidden inside a container.

Anti-smuggling officers in the southern region and customs forces of the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau found five tonnes of pangolin scales at the Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT) in the province’s Phu My town on May 23.

Singaporean authorities announced on April 10 that they had discovered nearly 13 tonnes of pangolin scales, worth about 38 million USD, in a shipping container, the second major seizure of the endangered animal product in a week.

Singaporean authorities have seized nearly 13 tonnes of pangolin scales worth about 38.7 million USD, which is the biggest single haul globally in recent years.

Malaysian authorities have seized 30 tonnes of pangolins and their scales, valued at some 2 million USD, during raids on a factory and a warehouse in Sabah state.

Customs forces in the northern city of Hai Phong discovered nearly 1.4 tonnes of pangolin scales and 10 elephant tusks weighing more than 100kg hidden inside a container shipped from Nigeria.

Competent agencies on October 12 seized nearly 34kg of rhino horns at Hanoi-based Noi Bai International Airport.

About 8 tonnes of ivory and pangolin scales were discovered in a container at Tien Sa port in the central city of Da Nang on October 4, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Customs officers of Noi Bai International Airport on September 28 seized nearly one tonne of elephant tusks, ivory products and pangolin scales transported from Nigeria.

The Government has issued a decree to update provisions of the Labour Code relating to wages.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs proposed amendments to Decree No.49/2013/NP-CP to reduce the State's intervention in the building of salary scales and payrolls in enterprises.

The customs office at Saigon Port under the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department on May 3 seized an additional 3.3 tonnes of pangolin scales illegally imported from Africa.