(VNF) – 3.3 tonnes of pangolin scales were recently confiscated by the customs office at Saigon Port under the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department discovered and confiscated 3.3 tons of pangolin scales which had been illegally imported from Africa.

The pangolin scales seized on Thursday, May 3 (source: DT News)

The container was declared by Tân Vĩnh Thịnh Trade Co. Ltd to contain dried cashew nuts. It was in transit to Cambodia from Nigeria.

After examining the container, the customs office and the Anti-Smuggling Police Department (C74) under the Ministry of Public Security found the pangolin scales contained in bags and covered by cashew nut bags.

Another 4 tonnes of pangolin scales were seized in HCM.City one week back (source: Dan Tri)

There are eight pangolin species in the world, four species can be found in Asia and the other four in Africa. The pangolin is a unique animal which has evolved an armoured cover of keratin scales as a defensive mechanism against predators.