Suspected rhino horn smuggler intercepted at Noi Bai International Airport

Exhibit of the case

According to leader of Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch, the bust occurred at 8:40 PM on November 29, 2024, during a coordinated operation involving: Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch (Entry Luggage Customs Procedure Team, Customs Enforcement Team), the Northern Anti-Smuggling Enforcement Unit (Unit 1) under the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department, the Economic Crime Police from Soc Son District Police Department.

The joint operation flagged two passengers, Ng.Đ.D. (born in 1981) and T.Th.Ch. (born in 1984), traveling on flight QR 984 from Angola via Doha. Their movements and luggage raised suspicion during customs inspections.

Upon questioning, both passengers admitted to being hired to transport the goods from Angola to Vietnam. A thorough inspection of their luggage led to the discovery of horns suspected to be rhino horns, a highly protected species under international law.

Customs officials are now working with other agencies to confirm the nature of the seized items and proceed with legal actions.

The incident highlights the ongoing battle against wildlife trafficking and smuggling through Vietnam’s international airports. In response to rising threats, customs officials at Noi Bai have intensified their operations by enhancing screening processes, deploying more scanning equipment to inspect luggage and goods arriving at the Noi Bai International Airport.

Furthermore, implementing modern tools such as advanced management software and the “Entry-Exit Information System” to analyze and track high-risk passengers.

Utilizing specialized equipment including high-resolution scanning machines, surveillance systems, metal detectors, and drug-testing devices to identify suspicious activities quickly; analyzing pre-arrival data through intelligence systems to preemptively flag potential smuggling or fraudulent activities.