Destroying more than 5 tons of pangolin scales

Recently, the Forest Protection Department of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province has coordinated with the following units: Economic Police Department and Police Investigation Agency - Provincial Police, Provincial People's Procuracy, Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department, The Department of Finance jointly destroyed 5,264 kg of pangolin scales according to the Provincial Police's decision to handle evidence. This is an exhibit seized in the case of "Trafficking in prohibited goods" that occurred at Cai Mep International Port in mid-2019.

All of the above exhibits were destroyed at the oil and gas industrial waste and hazardous waste treatment plant of Clean-Vietnam Environmental Treatment Co., Ltd, belonging to Toc Tien centralized waste treatment area, Toc Tien commune, Phu My town, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. 

All of the above pangolin scale exhibits were destroyed in an industrial incinerator in 2 days, ensuring compliance with the prescribed order and procedures and not causing any impact or harm to the environment.

Previously, on May 24, 2019, the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department - General Department of Customs inspected 02 containers at Cai Mep International Port, transported from Nigeria to Vietnam. According to the customs declaration, these are 2 containers containing cashew nuts, the consignee is a company in Ho Chi Minh City. However, when checked, there were actually 151 bags of pineapple, a total weight of 5,264 kg, it was suspected that pangolin scales were stacked with pineapple bags containing cashew nuts.

After that, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology concluded that the specimens were scales of giant pangolin, long-tailed pangolin and white-bellied pangolin. "All three of these species are listed in Appendix I of the list of wild animal and plant species specified in the Annexes of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora", the assessment conclusion stated.

On November 27, 2019, the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department - General Department of Customs issued a Decision to prosecute case No. 17/QD-DTCBL for the crime “Trading in prohibited goods” as stipulated in Clause 3, Article 190 of the Penal Code.