VietNamNet Bridge – Customs officers at Tan Son Nhat International Airport discovered and seized about 42.2kg of smuggled pangolin scales yesterday, August 16.

More and 42kg of smuggled pangolin scales were seized yesterday by customs officers at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. — Photo laodong.com.vn

The initial investigation showed that the scales, smuggled to Viet Nam from Nigeria via Turkey, were of African pangolins, also known as Manis tricuspis.

The alleged smugglers claimed the cargo as personal belongings, the Tan Son Nhat Airport customs sub-department under Ho Chi Minh City's customs department said.

Pangolins are on the endangered list of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Their scales have high medicinal value.

The import of pangolins needs to be authorised by CITES.

The confiscated scales are being kept for further investigation.

VNS