Local law enforcement forces of the southernmost province of Ca Mau recently uncovered the illegal transportation of 114 pangolins, the Department of Forest Rangers said on January 23.

On January 20, the Dat Mui Border Guard Station, Dat Mui commune, Ngoc Hien district checked a suspect ship owned by Hai Dang Company en route from the sea to Kenh Nam – O Ro canal in Khai Long village.

They found 35 bags of 114 live pangolins and 15 boxes containing 301kg of pangolin scales on board.

Nguyen Van Hau, 37, in Khai Long village, captain of the ship, admitted that he was paid to deliver the batch to Tran Quy, Director of the Hai Dang Company.

The case is under investigation.

Vietnam has two species of pangolins, the Manis javanica and the Manis pentadactyla. Both are listed in the category of rare and threatened species subject to priority protection under Decree 160/2013/ND-CP.

All hunting and trading of those species are illegal, together with the use of products from pangolins.-VNA