Vietnam’s customs authorities have seized as many as 300 kilograms of ivory worth VND18 billion ($857,000) so far this year, as part of their efforts to combat wildlife trafficking. On Sept 22 customs authorities at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City detected an ivory smuggling case and seized 40 kilograms of ivory worth VND2.4 billion ($114,000) in a batch imported from Africa. Earlier in June, the airport customs found that 200 kilos of tusk worth more than VND8 billion was smuggled into the country from Nigeria. Also in May, the customs in the northern city of Haiphong detected more than one ton of tusk shipped into the country from Hong Kong then planned to be exported to China. Over the past eight years, Vietnamese authorities have busted 25 cases of illegal trading of ivory, seizing 23 tons of ivory, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung earlier this year ordered all ministries and government agencies to enhance steps against poaching and trafficking of African elephant ivory and rhino horns. Under Vietnam law, anyone found guilty of wildlife smuggling may face a prison sentence of up to seven years. (Lao Dong – Labor Sept 29 p7, Vietnamplus.vn Sept 28)
