Vietnam Seizes Nearly 1.2 Tons of Ivory in Major Smuggling Bust

Vietnamese customs officials have uncovered the largest ivory smuggling operation in central Vietnam in recent years, seizing nearly 1.2 tons of elephant tusks and 79.3 kilograms of animal bones. The contraband, shipped from Africa, arrived at Quy Nhon port on July 9 and was falsely declared as timber. The discovery was announced on August 12 by the Customs Department under the Ministry of Finance. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department, the Ministry of Public Security's corruption and economic crime investigation unit (C03), and the environmental crime unit (C05). Authorities became suspicious of the shipment and conducted surveillance and verification. Between August 6 and 8, a joint operation involving provincial police, environmental police, the provincial prosecutor's office, and border guards examined the cargo. They found the significant quantity of ivory and animal bones, identified as belonging to elephants and large felines, respectively. These items are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The case has been handed over to the Gia Lai Provincial Police for further investigation and prosecution, marking a major bust for the Quy Nhon port area.