Hai Phong confiscates 1.6 tons of ivory

Hai Phong Customs Department said it had just discovered and arrested a large-scale smuggling case of ivory hidden in an import container at Lach Huyen International Port.

This ivory was disguised with black paint and first discovered in the Hai Phong ports and the whole country.

Previously, the Dinh Vu Port Customs Sub-Department, Economic Police Sub-Department of Hai Phong, Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department, General Department of Customs, and The Reconnaissance Unit No.1 of the Coast Guard searched a batch of containers in question.

The authorities discovered that inside the container were many sacks containing 547 pieces of ivory, with a total weight of 1,580kg.

The customs force continued to discover that the company named for receiving the goods on the bill of lading, with an address in Lang Son province, is a "ghost" company.

In recent years, the Hai Phong Customs Department has been considered the leading unit in apprehending ivory smuggling cases, including many large-scale cases.

The most recent was on March 20, 2023, when Hai Phong Customs Department arrested the smuggling of more than 7.6 tons of ivory and ivory products. The incident is considered the most significant smuggling incident ever, not only in Hai Phong but also in Vietnam.

Through the above incident, the authorities recommend that organizations and individuals regularly learn and master legal knowledge regarding the types of goods they are trading and are not allowed to store or exchange goods that do not have legal status, especially products originating from endangered and rare animals.

In case of detection, organizations and individuals will be subject to severe administrative sanctions or criminal prosecution.