Vietnamese news on hpcustoms.gov.vn reports that Hai Phong authorities have exposed an elephant tusk trafficking case. Whilst checking some suspicious looking parcels of cow horns, Vietnamese Customs in cooperation with the Scanner Inspection Team uncovered 21 elephant tusks. In an effort to evade apprehension, criminals had modified the elephant tusks by adjusting their size to fit inside the cow horns. All the goods were confiscated for further investigation.
As law enforcement gains greater strength in pressurizing the illegal trade, wildlife traffickers are incentivized to devise new tactics in the hope of eluding the authorities. While this presents a formidable challenge in the prevention of smuggling wildlife, the vigilance of customs officers in cases such as this has proven to be an invaluable resource in tackling wildlife crime.
Photo courtesy of Da Nang police. Photo for illustration only