Que Vinh Company imported 20m3 “Palo santo” without CITES certificate at Dinh Vu port

A case of smuggling precious wood was discovered and seized in the past. (document image). Photo: T.Bình

This shipment was imported by Que Vinh Handicrafts Co., Ltd. According to the information in the company’s declaration, goods were Guayacan wood (scientific name is Caesalpinia paraguariensis), lengths of 1.2m and more, diameter from 20cm and over. This item is not in the CITES lists and originates from Paraguay.

However, through the result of physical inspection and Inspection certificate of the species by Vinacontrol Corporation, the goods items that were imported by Que Vinh handicraft Co. Ltd., is Palo santo or Holy wood. The scientific name is Bulnesia Sarmientoi Lorentz ex Griseb. This is the wood species listed in Annex II of the "List of wild fauna and flora species specified in the annexes of the Convention on International Trade in Wild Species provided in the Annexes Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)", issued together with the Circular No. 04/2017 / TT-BNNPTNT dated 24/2/2017 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Talking to Customs News reporters, professor Dang Tat The- Head of the Department of Molecular and Genetics Sciences (Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology), the goods are in Appendix II of CITES, so when the enterprises do business and transport these items, they must have a license granted by the CITES Management Authorities.

Therefore, Que Vinh Handicrafts Co. Ltd., has the act of "importing goods without permit", the total amount of infringing goods is 20 m³; the total value is nearly 105 million VND.