HANOI - Customs officials in northern Vietnam seized six tonnes of live pangolins hidden in a container shipped from Indonesia, authorities said Tuesday.
The discovery was made during an inspection last week at Hai Phong port, the customs department said.
Shipping company Long Thanh Trading, Investment and Development said the container contained fish bones and fish offal. The container was intended for re-export, but no destination was specified.
Trade in the scaly anteaters is banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), an international agreement to which Vietnam is a party.
A kilogramme of live pangolins can sell for US$200 (6,200 baht) on the black market. Pangolins seized in Southeast Asian countries are usually sold in China, where they are sold for their meat and for use in traditional medicine.