According to a report from Nghe An Provincial Police Department, Ho Van Manh, 36, and Tran Thi Ngoc, 56, were caught red-handed keeping 110 bags that contain a total of 2,846 kilos of pangolin scales at their house in Yen Thanh District on October 24, 2023. The goods had a value of over VND14 billion.
The two failed to show legitimate papers on the origins of the goods.
Manh told the police that he bought the pangolin scales from a foreign country and hid at Ngoc's house. They intended to wash the scales and sell to earn profits.
Police are still investigating the case.
Pangolins are listed as critically endangered on Vietnam's Red Book. They are among the most trafficked animals on earth, with their meat and scales highly prized for food and traditional medicine in East Asia.
