Pangolin scales, tortoise shells smuggled into Hai Phong
thanhniennews.com 25 Aug 09;
Customs officers in the northern port city of Hai Phong have found around four tons of pangolin scales and tortoise shells smuggled from Indonesia.
The city customs on Monday counted 51 sacks containing two tons of tortoise shells in one container whose waybill declared that the sacks contained dried tuna stomach.
A separate container whose waybill stated the contests as dried seaweed was full of mostly pangolin scales.
The smuggled animal parts were believed to be shipped-on to another country.
Mai The Huyen, head of Hai Phong Customs, said the goods arrived at Hai Phong Port last Wednesday and were checked on Saturday as customs officers found unclear details in the waybill, which lists Hoa Vuong Investment and Commerce Company in Hanoi as the receiver.
Sacks containing the smuggled goods were marked differently for recognition.
Earlier on Friday, the city customs officers found more than two tons of elephant tusks in a container stated as carrying shells from Tanzania and also to be received by Hoa Vuong Company.
The two cases are being investigated.
