Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Police: Tons of animals smuggled through Vietnam

Dec 22, 2010

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - Police in Vietnam say an estimated 4,500 tons of wild animals - mostly snakes, turtles and pangolins - have been smuggled through the Southeast Asian country during the past year.

Lt. Col. Vu Duyen Hai of the Department of Environmental Police says the animals are smuggled in from Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar and taken through Vietnam before heading to China where they are eaten as delicacies or used in traditional medicines.

Hai says the estimate is based on information from police, border guards, customs and wildlife officials. He says he does not have a figure for the total numbers of animals.

He said Wednesday that the smugglers have become increasingly sophisticated to evade authorities.

- AP

No comments: