More than 600 kilogrammes of ivory illegally smuggled from Africa have been destroyed (Photo by the Haiphong Civil Judgment Enforcement Department)
The Haiphong Civil Judgment Enforcement Department said 159 ivory pieces were destroyed on October 23 at the Hoa Binh High-Tech Environment Company’s waste-treatment plant, under close supervision by prosecutors, police and environmental officials.
The ivory was seized in February 2023 after customs and police intercepted two containers shipped from Africa. The shipment, imported by HMD Engineering JSC and its legal representative Hoang Van Hao, was linked to a network smuggling elephant tusks, rhino horns and pangolin scales into Vietnam.
In July 2024, Hao was sentenced to 10 years in prison, which was later reduced to eight and a half years on appeal.
Officials said the ivory was destroyed using environmentally safe methods to prevent emissions and ensure none of it can re-enter the market.
