NGHE AN, (Vietnam): Six people have been jailed for their involvement in the illegal trade of more than 2.8 tonnes of pangolin scales, one of the country's largest such seizures ever recorded.
The People’s Court of Nghe An handed a seven-year prison term to Ho Van Manh and a three-year sentence to Tran Thi Ngoc for trading prohibited goods and violating regulations on the protection of endangered wildlife.
Four other defendants – Pham Thi Lap, Ho Mai Yen, Cao Xuan Quy, and Nguyen Thi Long – received sentences ranging from 15 months to three years. Quy and Long were given suspended sentences.
A related suspect, Le Quang Loi, remains at large and is currently wanted by authorities.
The group was detained in October 2023 after being caught illegally trading 2.8 tonnes of pangolin scales, including those from the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) and several African species.
All eight pangolin species are listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which bans international trade of the animals.
The Sunda and the Chinese pangolins, both found in Vietnam, are also listed as protected species under a government decree.
Vietnamese law stipulates that illegal trade of Sunda or Chinese pangolin scales can result in one to five years in prison or fines between VNĐ500 million and VNĐ2 billion (US$19,000 - $76,000).
Trade involving other pangolin species may be punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment or administrative fines, depending on the value of the goods.
The Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV) said the case represents one of the largest volumes of pangolin scales ever trafficked Vietnam.
The organisation also identified the central province of Nghe An as a long-standing hotspot for illegal wildlife trafficking, particularly in the districts of Dien Chau, Yen Thanh, and Quynh Luu.
Despite some attention from provincial authorities, ENV warned that the situation remains complex and poses challenges to the country’s commitments to international wildlife protection.
"A stronger response from the entire political system in Nghe An, along with increased involvement from the central government and relevant ministries, is needed to resolve the issue effectively," an ENV representative said. - Vietnam News/ANN
