Authorities in Gia Lai Province have launched a criminal investigation after uncovering what officials described as one of the largest illegal wildlife shipments detected in central Vietnam in recent years.

The three containers arrived at Quy Nhon Port on July 9 and were declared as sawn timber imported from Africa. The shipment, comprising 165 timber boxes with a total volume of nearly 65 cubic meters, was awaiting customs clearance.

The shipment was registered under Thanh Cong Trading Services and Translation Joint Stock Company and had been imported from the Republic of Congo.

After analyzing shipment information and conducting a risk assessment, customs officers identified several irregularities and placed the cargo under surveillance while carrying out further verification.

On Aug. 6, the Economic Police Division of Gia Lai Provincial Police coordinated with specialized units under the Ministry of Public Security, the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department under Vietnam Customs and Regional Customs Sub-department XIV to inspect the shipment.

The broader examination, conducted from Aug. 6-8, also involved the Environmental Crime Prevention and Control Police Department, the Gia Lai People’s Procuracy and the Quy Nhon Port Border Guard Station.

Ivory concealed inside hollow timber crates

Using scanning equipment, authorities detected suspicious areas inside 12 timber boxes contained in two of the three containers.

Investigators discovered that the boxes had been specially modified to create hollow compartments in which animal bones and items suspected to be elephant ivory were concealed.

The wildlife products had been placed inside the cavities and covered with wax. Additional timber was then used to reinforce and reshape the boxes so that they appeared to be ordinary timber packages, making the contraband difficult to detect through visual inspection alone.

Officers drilled into and cut open the boxes, uncovering 221 pieces suspected to be ivory with a combined weight of 1,193kg, along with 79.3kg of animal bones.

The seized specimens were subsequently sent for scientific examination.

Testing by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology determined that the ivory belonged to species in the Elephantidae family. Authorities also said examination of the bone samples identified them as belonging to the Felidae family, which includes large cats.

The animals concerned are covered by appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates international trade in endangered wildlife and wildlife products.

Criminal case launched

Gia Lai Provincial Police said on Aug. 12 that its Investigation Police Agency had initiated criminal proceedings and temporarily detained people connected with the shipment for investigation into alleged violations of regulations on the protection of endangered, precious and rare animals.

According to authorities, the seizure is among the largest cases of illegal transportation of endangered wildlife products detected in central Vietnam in recent years and the first case of such magnitude uncovered at Quy Nhon Port.

Gia Lai police also described it as the largest case involving alleged violations of regulations protecting endangered, precious and rare animals that provincial police have detected to date.

Customs authorities said the case highlighted the importance of risk management, intelligence gathering and customs controls in identifying suspicious international cargo.

Coordination among customs, police, border guards, prosecutors and other agencies allowed authorities to intercept the large shipment before it could clear the port.

Following initial procedures, the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department transferred the case files and seized evidence to the Investigation Police Agency of Gia Lai Provincial Police.

Police are continuing to investigate the case and identify those involved for further action in accordance with Vietnamese law.

Tien Dung - Tran Hoan