HANOI: Customs authorities said they have discovered nearly 1,200kg of ivory and 80kg of animal bones shipped from Africa to Quy Nhon Port in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, during an inspection conducted from Aug 6 to 8.
The ivory and bones were hidden in sawn timber and placed in three containers that arrived at the port on July 9, according to the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Division, under the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
As the cargo raised suspicions, it was monitored and inspected by customs authorities, in collaboration with specialised police units under the Ministry of Public Security and economic police of Gia Lai province.
A total of 1,193kg of ivory and 79.3kg of animal bones were discovered and handed over to Gia Lai's Investigation Police Agency on Aug 10, for further handling in accordance with their jurisdiction.
Analysis showed that the ivory belonged to the Elephantidae family, and the animal bones belonged to the Felidae family and are listed in the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Preliminary assessments indicated that this is one of the largest seizures of illicit goods in the central region in recent years, and the first major case of its kind detected at Quy Nhon Port.
Units involved in the inspection were commended by Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi for detecting and intercepting the illegal wildlife transport.
Chi attributed the results to the close coordination between customs forces and police authorities in the broader effort to combat smuggling and prevent trafficking of endangered wild animal and plant species.
He said the achievement contributed significantly to maintaining national security and social order and encouraged the forces to build upon these results. — Vietnam News/ANN
