Two arrested for smuggling endangered species
VOV.VN - Police operating in Nghi Son commune in the northern province of Thanh Hoa have detained two Vietnamese people for the crime of illegal transporting endangered, precious, and rare animals in large quantities.
The mastermind behind the case was identified as Tong Thi Lanh, 40, residing in Tan An village of Phu Nhuan commune in Phu Vang district in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.
According to a police report issued on April 7, local police forces had stopped a suspicious car travelling on National Highway 1A as it passed through Nguyen Binh ward. Upon inspection of the vehicle, they found two styrofoam boxes containing nine dead pangolins and 17 big-headed turtles and yellow-headed temple turtles.
Expanding the investigation, the police forces continued to arrest Phan Quoc Vuong, 30, residing in Hoa Son commune of Hoa Vang district in Da Nang. Vuong was the person who had sent the styrofoam box containing the 17 living turtles.
Following detection of the animals, the turtles were promptly transferred to the Cuc Phuong National Park’s Centre for Rescue, Conservation and Development of Creatures in the northern province of Ninh Binh where they will receive care and possibly be returned into the wild at a later date.
The case is currently under further investigation.
Pangolins and turtles are listed as critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to the high demand for its meat.
