Seized half ton of living pangolin

Many cases of transporting pangolin were detected by the customs forces in the border area of Vietnam-China. Photo: Q.H

At 1:30 PM on 9/7, after receiving information about some subjects transporting wild animals in large quantity, the working group of Economic Police Department in collaboration with Police of Me So Commune, Van Giang District, Hung Yen province went to verify, and discovered suspicious signs of a car with license plate: 38C-075.86 when it was stopping at the area of the Me So ferry terminal.

When the working group asked the driver to coordinate for inspection, the driver suddenly stepped on the gas and drove into the inspection force’s car, causing heavy damage to both vehicles and injuring two officials.

After that, the subjects ran into a field in Phu Thi hamlet, Me So commune and left the car and goods behind. The working group took the car back to the headquarters of the People's Committee of Me So Commune for inspection and detected 116 pangolins, total weight 530kg.

The Economic Police Department coordinated with the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to conduct on-spot inspections and identified the above pangolins were Java pangolins (scientific name is Manis jivanica) which is included in Appendix I, issued and attached to Decree 160/2013 / ND-TTg dated 12/11/2013 of the Government on the criteria for species identification and the management regime in the list of endangered, precious and rare species that are prioritized for protection).

The Economic Police Department has handed over 116 pangolins to the Rescue center of Cuc Phuong National Wildlife Park for taking care; At the same time, continuing to investigate and coordinate to arrest those subjects.