Vehicles with Lao license plates transporting timber and rare animals.
(Baonghean.vn) - An inspection of a vehicle with Lao license plates uncovered 11 turtles (including two individuals of the Northern yellow-headed turtle species) and a pangolin, both endangered and rare animals requiring protection, along with 160kg of ebony wood.
On May 31st, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Phuc Thinh, Head of the Environmental Police Department (PC49) of Nghe An Provincial Police, announced that the unit had successfully cracked case 515D, arresting individuals involved in the transportation of rare timber and wild animals.
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| Among the 11 turtles seized were two individuals of the Northern yellow-headed turtle species. Photo: Thao Nguyen. |
Accordingly, at approximately 3 PM on May 28, 2017, officers from Team 3 of the Environmental Police Department, in coordination with the Vinh City Traffic Police Team, signaled and inspected a passenger bus with license plate UN 0324 (Lao plate), which was transporting passengers from Laos to Vietnam.
During the inspection, the task force discovered a sack in front of the passenger bus's cabin. Inside, they found a live pangolin weighing 3.7 kg. The owner of the pangolin was Ms. Nguyen Thi Tu (born in 1958), residing in Bac Hamlet, Dien Hong Commune, Dien Chau District. According to Ms. Tu's statement, the pangolin was purchased from Laos and hidden on the passenger bus to be brought to Vietnam for sale and profit.
Also on this bus, investigators discovered a sack containing 11 live turtles, weighing a total of 8.9 kg. The owner of the shipment was identified as Tran Van Toan (born in 1990), residing in Nghia Loc commune, Nghia Dan district. Toan had purchased the turtles from Laos and was bringing them to Vietnam for sale.
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| Pangolins are endangered and rare animals (Group 2 animals) that need protection. Photo by Thao Nguyen. |
Additionally, the passenger bus was carrying 160kg of ebony wood from the forest, brought from Laos to Vietnam for sale by the driver, Tran Van Thang (born in 1973), residing in Le Loi Ward, Vinh City.
The Criminal Investigation Department has now transferred the case file to the Criminal Investigation Agency (PC44) of the Nghe An Provincial Police for further investigation and handling according to their jurisdiction.
Meadow
