Smuggling ring trading ivory and pangolin scales worth VND300 billion arrested

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Infringing goods are seized in 2022.

On June 22, Da Nang City Police Investigation Department prosecuted and detained Nguyen Duc Tai, 33, temporarily residing in Khue Trung ward, Cam Le district (Da Nang city) for four months for “violating regulations on protection of endangered and rare animals" as specified in Clause 3, Article 244 of the Penal Code.

Nguyen Duc Tai is one of the suspects in the smuggling ring of rhino horn, ivory, pangolin and scales from African countries to Vietnam worth VND300 billion.

Earlier, in 2021, the Police Department for Corruption, Smuggling and Economic Crimes under Da Nang City Police detected suspects using identity cards of other people to establish companies. These companies have registered import and export business but have not headquarters and imported goods from African countries to Vietnam across Tien Sa port, Da Nang.

Recognizing the suspicious signs of a large-scale transnational wildlife and wildlife product ring, the Police Department for Corruption, Smuggling and Economic Crimes reported to Da Nang City Police to establish a special plan to combat the ring.

On July 17, Da Nang City Police coordinated with Da Nang Customs and other competent units to inspect container MSDU1006024, which was declared as wooden floor imported from South Africa. The consignee is a company based in Johannesburg (South Africa), the consignor is Nam Thai Cuong Co., Ltd., registered address at 180 Ly Nhan Tong, Khue Trung ward, Cam Le district, Da Nang city.

Through the inspection, the competent forces discovered that 52 rhino horns, weighing 138,784 kg and 93 boxes of lion bones, weighing 3,108 kg, inside the container.

On January 5, the Da Nang Customs and Police inspected container GESU6160232 that was declared as cashew nuts imported from Nigeria, the consignee was a company located in Nigeria, the consignor was Quang Nhat Long Co., Ltd (registered business address at 145 Dong Da, Thach Thang ward, Hai Chau district, Da Nang city), and detected 456, 9kg of ivory and 6,232kg of pangolin scales inside the container.

After two consignments were seized, the smugglers continued to set up bogus companies to smuggle these wildlife products.

On June 22, the Department executed an urgent arrest warrant for Tai and seized many exhibits.

Currently, the city police prosecuted and temporarily arrested Tai for violating regulations on the protection of endangered, precious and rare animals".

According to the Police, the infringing goods is estimated at VND 300 billion and this is one of the largest wildlife smuggling cases in the city.