Holding in custody 125.15kg of rhino horn transported to Noi Bai International Airport

The horns were hidden inside the gypsum block to escape from enforcement units’ notice.

On July 25, at the warehouse of Noi Bai Cargo Terminal Service JSC (NCTS), Customs Enfrocement Unit coordinated with Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch, Police Division on Criminal Investigation on corruption, economic and smuggling – Hanoi Police City, Northern Airports Authority, Vietnam Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, witnessed by ETIHAD Airways, to inspect 14 packages and detected many animal horns, suspected to be rhino horns.

Earlier, through information collection and scanning machines, Customs authorities suspected packages transporting from UAE via airway to Noi Bai International Airport. It declared in the declaration No. 102760569220/E21, opened on July 16.

The consignee on the bill of lading was: YANG SHIN CO LTD No 38 GIA TU STREET NGO TRAN PHU VIET NAM, the unit that opened the declaration was Thien Ha Garment and Export Trading Co., Ltd. (address in Bac Giang).

Through inspection, the competent force discovered 14 packages containing 55 rhino horn sections, with total weight of 125.15kg. The horns were hidden inside the gypsum block to escape from enforcement units’ notice and the scanning system.

According to the Customs authorities, the violators took advantage of the opening of declarations under the type of E21 that was import for processing so it would be classified to green channel (exempt from inspection) and hiding counterfeit goods.

The force made a record of temporary seizure of the entire shipment to wait for the inspection results of sample and handling in accordance with law.

Here are some photos of the inspection: