VietNamNet Bridge – Checking a bus with Lao number plate, the police of Thanh Hoa province discovered 18 frozen bear paws in two carton boxes.

The coach carrying bear paws.

On early morning of July 26th, on the Ho Chi Minh Highway segment crossing the town of Ngoc Lac in Ngoc Lac District, Thanh Hoa province, Thanh Hoa’s traffic and environment police force stopped a coach registered in Laos for inspection.

The police found two carton boxes containing 18 frozen bear paws with a total weight of 38 kilos on the coach.

The driver was identified as Dinh Hong Phuong, 47, a resident of Nam Dinh City, Nam Dinh Province and the coach owner - Bui Thien Loi, 52, a resident of Thai Binh City, Thai Binh province.

At the scene, they confessed to delivering the bear paws for gratuity from a person in Laos.

The bear feet were seized and the police are investigating the case.

Trading in parts of endangered animals has become rampant in Vietnam as these items appeal to a large clientele who believe in their purported medicinal properties or promise of luck.

Linh Nhat