Around 500 kilos of ivory and pangolin scales imported from Africa were detected by customs authorities at Cat Lai Port in HCM City.
On October 21, the customs officials found the ivory and pangolin scales worth a total VND20 billion (USD881,000) to have been hidden in two timber containers imported from Africa.
The ivory hidden in timber containers
Hundreds of elephant tusks were put into 2-metre hollow pieces of wood and then covered in glue and stuck to the centre of timber blocks.
The owners of the ivory and pangolin scales containers have not yet been announced.
Earlier, on October 6, authorities in Cat Lat Port also seized more than two tonnes of ivory imported from Mozambique to send to Dieu Tien Trade and Service Company in HCM City. The case will be transferred to the police for further investigation.
On October 1, customs officials at Noi Bai International Airport discovered 300 kilos of elephant tusks transported from Nigeria and falsely labelled as glass.