Da Nang’s law enforcement officers from Customs and Police and Border Guard, who got involved in thwarting an attempt to smuggle ivory and pangolin scales into the country, was honoured on Wednesday.

Chairman Tho (1st left) and the honourees at the honouring ceremony

On 4 October, a total of 8 tonnes of the smuggled ivory and pangolin scales was seized by local law enforcement officers at the Tien Sa Port.

Accordingly, the officers detected 200 sacks containing about 2 tonnes of ivory and 6 tonnes of pangolin scales hidden in a container, together with about 200 other ones containing plastic wastes transported from Nigeria.

The cargo was imported by the Nghe An Province-based Thien Truong Su trading company. The case is now still under investigation.

In his remarks at the honouring ceremony, People's Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho highlighted great efforts by involved officers in foiling the largest ivory and pangolin scale smuggling attempt into Viet Nam since the start of this year.

Chairman Tho also urged the local law enforcement agencies to identify exactly those who are behind this large-scale smuggling case.

The municipal government leader also re-affirmed the city’s stance in taking resolute measures to tackle crime and actively supporting law enforcement forces to fight against criminals.

In recent years, Da Nang has emerged as a convenient transit point for domestic and international cargo shipment.

For the sake of the local security, the city leader asked the local law enforcement agencies to enhance their professional skills in order to detect and prevent in a timely manner the increasingly sophisticated law violations, and ensure closer cooperation in the tough battle against crimes.

On this occasion, Chairman Tho awarded a Certificate of Merit from the municipal People's Committee and 60 million from the city budget as bonuses to the honourees.

Trading, storing and transporting ivory is forbidden in Viet Nam. Violators can be fined from 5-50 million VND or imprisoned from 6 months to 5 years.