Illegal transportation of wild fauna: "Hot" on the border routes

Illustrative photo: Source: Internet

Accordingly, focusing on combating, preventing and strictly handling smuggling and illegal transportation of consumer goods and prohibited goods. It is not outside the law of supply and demand, because smugglers have abused normal goods imports to hide rare and endangered fauna and flora species that are prohibited from import and export for commercial purposes.

On January 30, 2019 Hai Phong Customs Enforcement Team inspected a container of ivory and pangolin scales disguised in a wood shipment imported from Africa. The shipment was transported from Apapa port (Nigeria, Africa) in transit via Singapore and transported to Lach Huyen port (Hai Phong city). The destination port was VIP Green port (Hai Phong). Through the initial inspection, the Customs force seized over 100kg of ivory and over 1 ton of pangolin scales. The consignee declared on the bill of lading is VIC Thanh Binh Import-Export Company Limited (address in Lien Hong Commune, Dan Phuong District, Hanoi). However, this shipment has not yet been opened for declaration.

Another case that was detected by the Customs force was 8 tons of pangolin scales and ivory hidden in scrap containers imported through Tien Sa Port, Da Nang City. Specifically, through the information collection and analysis, the Da Nang Customs Department suspected an imported shipment containing contraband goods that were expected to arrive at Tien Sa Port in Da Nang on September 28, 2018. The shipment was hidden in container No. MSKU 0147717 under the bill of lading No. 770655775, was not opened for declaration, and transported from Nigeria to Da Nang. The name of goods was declared on the manifest as New Plastic PETS. The company registered on the bill of lading was Thien Truong Su Company Limited (Doan Ket hamlet, Nghia Xuan commune, Quy Hop district, Nghe An province).

According to the Standing Office of National Standing Committee, the competent forces detected that the illegal transportation of rare and endangered fauna and flora not only takes place complicatedly in areas next to Vietnam-China and Vietnam- Laos border gates, but also on seaport routes. Sophisticatedly, on the transportation roads, smugglers have changed routes and hidden goods in many places, divided goods to transport them in many vehicles at many different times, used fake license plates to distract the competent authorities, and used passenger vehicles, express delivery vehicles and motorbikes for transportation.

Over the past time, in Nghe An, Quang Binh provinces, the illegal trafficking and transportation of rare and endangered fauna have taken place in border gates, trails and tracks on the Vietnam-Laos border. Most recently, in November 2018, Nghe An Police discovered and prevented a car illegally transporting endangered fauna, seized 6 monkeys, 10 Spalacids and 2 Ratels…. Previously, the competent force of Nghe An Province detected and handled many cases related to the transportation of wood and fauna from Laos to Vietnam, such as Pangolin, Turtles, Ebony and etc.

At the same time, the Economic Police Chamber cooperated with the Traffic Police Chamber to prevent and inspect a car with the License plate No. 38C- 057.40, driven by Phan Minh Son (born in 1983 in Tan Son Town, Huong Son District, Ha Tinh Province) from the South to the North to transport 1,280 kg of cobras, 675 kg of Ptyas mucosus and 379 kg of tortoises.

Also in the Quang Ninh border, the Standing Office of the Steering Committee 389 of Quang Ninh province said that the trafficking and transportation of prohibited goods (wild fauna) across the border still takes place and is complicated all the time. In addition to some consumer goods such as cosmetics, cigarettes and alcohol, the competent forces in the province discovered and seized 429 kg of pangolin scales, 666.91 kg and 51 endangered fauna species.

Seized half ton of living pangolin VCN – 116 pangolins, with a total weight of 530kg were discovered and seized by Hung Yen ...

The National Steering Committee 389 directed the Steering Committee 389 of ministries, branches and localities to develop their work plans for 2019 according to their functions and management areas. Among the key items (such as petroleum products, minerals, fertilizers and etc.), the National Steering Committee 389 required competent forces to develop thematic plans to fight against wild fauna smuggling. On the other hand, assign specific targets to competent agencies on the number of the cases of inspection, examination detection, seizure and prosecution…

The National Steering Committee 389 continues to strengthen inspections, and urges the Steering Committees 389 of ministries, branches and localities in the implementation and compliance with the Resolution, Directive, thematic plans, and directions by the Government, Prime Minister, and National Steering Committee 389 on anti-smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods. Innovating the propaganda in both scope and content so that society can recognise the harms of smuggling, trade frauds and counterfeit goods, and urges the people not to abide with smugglers’ repugnant actions, to participate in denunciations of smugglers and coordinate with the competent forces in this field.