Lao license plate vehicles transporting wood and rare animals

(Baonghean.vn)- Checking the Lao license plate car, 11 turtles (two of which are of the Northern golden-fronted turtle species) and a pangolin, a rare and endangered animal that needs to be protected, and 160kg of ebony wood were discovered.

On May 31, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Phuc Thinh - Head of the Environmental Police Department (PC49), Nghe An Provincial Police, said that the unit had just successfully broken up Project 515D, arresting subjects transporting wood and rare wild animals.

In the shipment of 11 turtles seized, there were two individuals of the Northern golden-fronted turtle species. Photo: Thao Nguyen.

Accordingly, at about 3:00 p.m. on May 28, 2017, soldiers from Team 3, Environmental Police Department, coordinated with Vinh City Traffic Police Team to stop and check a passenger bus with license plate UN 0324 (Laos license plate), which was transporting passengers from Laos to Vietnam.

Upon inspection, the working group discovered a sack in front of the passenger car cabin, and upon inspection, it found a live pangolin weighing 3.7 kg. The owner of the pangolin is Ms. Nguyen Thi Tu (born in 1958), residing in the North block, Dien Hong commune, Dien Chau district. According to Ms. Tu's declaration, this pangolin was purchased from Laos, then hidden on the passenger car and brought back to Vietnam to sell and make a profit.

Also on this bus, the detectives discovered a sack containing 11 live turtles, weighing a total of 8.9 kg. The owner of this shipment was identified as Mr. Tran Van Toan (born in 1990), residing in Nghia Loc commune, Nghia Dan district. The turtles were also purchased by Mr. Toan from Laos and brought back to Vietnam for consumption.

An individual pangolin is a rare and endangered animal (Group 2 animal) that needs to be protected. Photo by Thao Nguyen.

In addition, on the passenger bus there was also 160kg of ebony wood brought from Laos to Vietnam for sale by driver Tran Van Thang (born 1973), residing in Le Loi ward, Vinh city.

Currently, the Criminal Police Department has transferred the case file to the Investigation Police Agency (PC44), Nghe An Provincial Police to continue investigating and handling according to authority./.

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