Smuggled from Africa: Da Nang destroys almost 10 tonnes of wildlife parts worth $12.3mn

Authorities in central Vietnam’s Da Nang City on Thursday destroyed nearly 10 metric tons of wildlife parts, including ivory, rhino horns, and others, which bogus companies had smuggled from African countries in 2021. The wildlife items destroyed included 456kg of tusks, over 138kg of rhino horns, 6.2 metric tons of pangolin scales, and 3.1 metric tons of lion bones, which all were seized in a smuggling case uncovered at the Tien Sa Port in Da Nang in 2021. The total value of these smuggled goods was estimated at some VND300 billion ($12.35 million), according to the department. These illicit wildlife items were deceitfully labeled in customs declarations as wooden flooring parts and cashew nuts, or concealed within other imported goods. Pursuant to Vietnam’s Penal Code, transporting, trading, capturing or killing wild animals or parts thereof is a criminal offense punishable by six months to 12 years in prison.