Le Ho Ward Police said on June 10 that they were working with relevant authorities to investigate a suspected case of illegal transportation of a rare and endangered wild animal.
The case was uncovered during a routine patrol when officers noticed a man riding a motorbike carrying a white foam container that appeared suspicious.
After stopping the vehicle for inspection, police found a large glass jar inside the container. The jar contained a dead snake preserved in a yellow liquid believed to be alcohol.
The rider was identified as Truong Van Tinh, born in 2000, originally from Lao Cai Province and currently residing in Dong Van Ward, Ninh Binh Province.
Truong Van Tinh at the police station (Photo: Ninh Binh Police).
According to police, Tinh admitted that the specimen was a king cobra and said he had been hired to transport it in exchange for payment.
Le Ho Ward Police subsequently coordinated with the Area 4 Forest Protection Department in Ninh Binh Province to examine the specimen.
Authorities confirmed that the animal was a king cobra, a species classified under Group IB, the highest protection category for endangered, precious and rare forest wildlife in Vietnam. The species is also listed in Appendix I of protected endangered species given priority conservation status under Vietnamese law.
The investigation is continuing to determine the origin of the specimen and identify any individuals involved in the illegal wildlife trade.
