The online newspaper of Vietnam’s Government reported that Hai Phong Customs yesterday intercepted more than 6.2 tons of pangolin being trafficked from Indonesia to Hai Phong.

 

The newspaper stated that the illegal goods were listed as fish and other derivative products on the customs declaration form, but were uncovered when Hai Phong officials checked a suspicious container as part of their investigations. The authorities are now completing documentation to progress the case.

Since the start of 2013, Hai Phong Customs is understood to have confiscated over 1.2 tons of pangolin scales and 10.6 pangolin meat in addition to this seizure. 

Pangolins exist in the wild throughout tropical regions of Asia and Africa, and the populations of all eight pangolin species remaining are in decline. Pangolins are recognized by both the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and the Vietnamese Red Data Book. Despite being protected under both the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) and Vietnamese law, pangolin species are commonly trafficked for their meat and scales, especially through Hai Phong city and Quang Ninh province.

Photo for illustration (source: Internet)

 

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