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Hanoi’s Environmental Police record largest-ever seizure

Category: conservation, poaching, threats | Date: Jan 19 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong

Article originally appeared on TRAFFIC website: http://www.traffic.org/home/2009/1/19/hanois-environmental-police-record-largest-ever-seizure.html

 More than two tonnes of illegal wildlife products seized in Dong Da district

Hanoi, Viet Nam, 19 January 2009—Hanoi’s Environmental Police have made their largest-ever seizure of wildlife products following the confiscation of more than two tonnes of bones from a store in Dong Da district, Hanoi, on 10 January.

Environmental Police first stopped a man transporting a set of tiger bones and ten kilograms of serow bones and horns by motorbike in Ba Dinh district. Following investigations, they raided the end destination of the products, a store belonging to Ms Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam, and discovered another set of tiger bones, six frozen pieces of tiger skin, seven bear paws, 16 bear gall bladders, six porcupine stomachs and 69 bags of bones from various wild animals. Her testimony led to a third and final arrest of a man manufacturing the tiger bone gel found in Ms Tam’s warehouse.

 tiger-bones-viet-nam-environmental-police.jpg

The discovery of a set of Tiger bones led to the largest ever seizure of wildlife products by Viet Nam’s Envirnmental Police © Viet Nam Environmental Police
“While this case underscores the very serious threat that illegal trade poses to many of Viet Nam’s endangered wildlife populations, we continue to be impressed and encouraged by the good work that the Environmental Police are doing,” said Nguyen Dao Ngoc Van, Senior Projects Officer for TRAFFIC Southeast Asia’s Greater Mekong Programme.

The case is the latest in a string of major seizures, and reflects Hanoi’s improved enforcement capacity since the Environmental Police were established a division of the Hanoi Police Department in 2007. Since their establishment, the Environmental Police have handled 100 cases, one of them involving as large a quantity as 24 tons of frozen pangolin meat and scales and nearly thirty involving wild animals from leopard cats and civets to pythons and monitor lizards.

“The presence of the Environmental Police in Viet Nam will change illegal wildlife trade for the better,” Van noted.

Although Vietnam is a party to CITES, the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, and national legislation is in place to protect many of its wildlife populations, trade in endangered wild plants and animals is widespread throughout the country.

For further information
Lisa Kelley, Communications Officer, TRAFFIC Greater Mekong Programme Tel. +84 3 4 719 3116, E-mail: lkelley@traffic.netnam.vn

Nguyen Dao Ngoc Van, Senior Projects Officer for TRAFFIC Greater Mekong Programme (in Viet Nam) tel: +84 04 3 719 3116, E-mail: nvan@traffic.netnam.vn

Richard Thomas, Communications Co-ordinator, TRAFFIC. Tel: +44 1223 279068, mob + 44 752 6646 216. E-mail richard.thomas@traffic.org

4 Responses to “Hanoi’s Environmental Police record largest-ever seizure”

sheryl, washington, dc, on 20 Jan 2009

Will the punishment be enough to deter these poachers from returning to their “business” once they’ve paid their fines or served their time?

s.

Siew Te Wong, on 20 Jan 2009

I do not think so. Many of the wildlife laws were so out of date and the poachers usually take the risk for getting punishment. They can really make a big fortune if they can get away from their crime.

TheTeach, on 03 Feb 2009

Wong,
Sorry to be so out of touch lately. I’m still following the blog and planning to send support. The economic crisis is starting to hit home here, but it shant curtail my intentions to contribute to your efforts on behalf of sun bears and Bornean habitats. It looks as though the world economic troubles only add to the pressures for these animals and their respective ecosystems. The massive scale of the poaching and illegal trade revealed by reports here are truley chilling to the soul. I fail to understand how these animals continue to exist at all under such an obvious onslaught. The discouragement can be overwhelming.
Clearly, as you’ve voiced, there is not a second to waste, and every dollar, is a dollar worth investing. And, yes, for those who might suggest it is hopeless, I say, we must try anyway, because it is the right thing to do. Sitting back to watch it unravel, on our watch, is not an acceptable option. Things are only hopeless when people choose to do nothing and allow fate to take its course. Every good cause is worth the effort, regardless of outcome. Stay strong and stay the course. I’ll get a check in the mail. Best Wishes

Siew Te Wong, on 06 Feb 2009

Dear TheTeach,
Thanks for being a faithful reader all these times and thanks for leaving inspiring comments. Do you mind telling me your name so that I can at least address you properly, this is the least thing I can do from here.
You are right being the current world economic situation. However, like you said, we should not discourage by the challenges. As a protector and guardian of wildlife and wildlife habitat, we should always stay our course and stay strong no matter what kind of challenges we faced. We cannot back down because if we do, we failed. There is no room for failing at this moment because the price of failing is too great for all of us to bear. We have to stay strong and stay on course until the situation is improved and the problem solved. The issue of wildlife poaching is a good example that we cannot fail. Things can be better if we all joint force to make a different as long as we believe in it. Thanks for support our work. Let me know if you need an address to send the check.

Kindest regards,
Wong

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