Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh directs investigation into illegal transportation of 9.1 tons of ivory
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, Head of the National Steering Committee 389, has just given instructions on handling the case of illegal transportation of ivory from abroad into Vietnam.
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| A large amount of ivory, up to 9.12 tons, was stored together with finished sawn timber. |
Considering the report of the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee on the detection and prevention of smuggling and illegal transportation of large quantities of ivory from abroad into Vietnam by functional forces, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, Head of the National Steering Committee 389, commended the achievements of the Da Nang Customs Department, Da Nang City Police, Da Nang City Border Guard Command, the Anti-smuggling Investigation Department - General Department of Customs and the Environmental Crime Investigation Police Department - Ministry of Public Security in coordinating to detect and prevent smuggling and illegal transportation of large quantities of ivory from abroad into Vietnam.
The Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Public Security to direct the Da Nang City Police to coordinate with relevant functional forces to urgently investigate and expand the case, clarify the organization, network, and subjects with law-breaking behavior, especially the mastermind and ringleader, to strictly handle them according to the provisions of the law.
The Deputy Prime Minister also requested ministries, branches, localities, and the National Steering Committee 389 at all levels to direct functional forces to focus on doing a good job of grasping the situation, strengthening inspection, control, detecting, preventing, and strictly handling organizations and individuals who smuggle and illegally transport goods through border areas, border gates, and seaports into Vietnam. The Standing Office of the National Steering Committee 389 is assigned to monitor, urge the implementation, and summarize the results to report to the Head of the National Steering Committee 389.
Previously, on March 26, the Da Nang Customs Department coordinated with other forces to search suspicious containers and discovered more than 9.1 tons of ivory hidden and camouflaged in sawn timber.
This is the largest seizure of suspected ivory in the country since the beginning of 2019 and in recent years.
According to initial investigation, the shipment was transported from Congo to Tien Sa port - Da Nang. The subjects used sawn wood to assemble into sturdy boxes, containing sawdust inside to hide the ivory.
