Hundreds of tusks worth over VND40 billion (US$ 1.8 million) were hidden in hollow wooden blocks two metres in length and 30-40 centimetres in width. They were imported from Kenya and transited at Cat Lai Port before being exported to Cambodia. The investigation is ongoing.
This is the third ivory smuggling case in October 2016.
Earlier, on October 6, the Saigon Sea Port Customs Branch of Region 1 collaborated with the Customs Enforcement Team (HCMC Customs Department) and the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department (C74) under the Ministry of Public Security inspected the shipment of the Dieu Tien Service and Trading Limited Liability Company at No.66/8 Tai Thiet Road, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City and detected the container of 2.052kg of suspect ivory.
On October 21, the city’s customs officers found 500kg of ivory hidden inside hollow wood blocks and ten bags of pangolin scales worth over VND10billion (US$450,000).
