Prosecuted 2 suspects for trafficking pangolin scales worth more than 14 billion VND

On January 26, information from the People's Procuracy of Nghe An province said that this agency has just approved the decision to prosecute the accused and issue an order to temporarily detain Ho Van Manh (36 years old) and Tran Thi Ngoc (56 years old, both residing in Do Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, Nghe An), to investigate the act of violating regulations on the protection of endangered and rare animals and the crime of trading in prohibited goods.

The authorities delivered the decision to prosecute the accused Ho Van Manh and Tran Thi Ngoc.

Previously, the Police Department for Investigation of Economic Crimes, Corruption, Smuggling, and Environmental Crimes (Nghe An Provincial Police) inspected and discovered that Ho Van Manh was storing pangolin scales at his private home. The authorities seized 110 sacks containing 2,846 kg of pangolin scales.

Initially, the defendant Manh confessed to buying the pangolin scales from abroad, bringing them back to hide at Manh's house to wait to sell for profit.

Defendant Ngoc knew clearly that these were pangolin scales that Manh bought to resell to others and received the goods, classified the scales, packaged them, and brought them to the bus to send to the buyer.

The Asset Valuation Council valued these 2,846 kg of pangolin scales at more than 14 billion VND.

The appraisal conclusion of the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources determined that in the 2,846 kg of pangolin scales, there were 1,185 kg of scales from the Java pangolin, 1,661 kg of scales from the white-bellied tree pangolin and the Indian pangolin.

The Javan pangolin is listed in the list of endangered, precious, and rare species prioritized for protection issued together with Decree 64/2019 of the Government. The white-bellied tree pangolin and the Indian pangolin are listed in Appendix I of the List of wild animals and plants under the Appendix of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/khoi-to-2-bi-can-buon-ban-vay-te-te-tri-gia-hon-14-ti-dong-185240126220257328.htm