Last Updated: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 11:32:36 Vietnam (GMT+07)
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Police arrest man for smuggling rhino horns
Ho Chi Minh City police detained a man on Saturday so they can investigate allegations he smuggled almost 18 kilograms of rhino horns through Tan San Nhat Airport last January.


The HCMC Customs Agency had decided to investigate the case after airport officials discovered the haul on January 1.

The five rhino horns, including the biggest which weighed-in at eight kilograms, were hidden in smuggler Tran Van Lap’s suitcases and personal belongings.

Lap – a photographer from Hanoi – left for South Africa last August and was returning to Vietnam on a transit flight from Singapore when caught.

An inspection by the HCMC Forest Control Agency January 7 showed that all the rhino horns were genuine and had a total weight of 17.6 kilograms.

The rhino horns were for his own personal use, Lap said to the HCMC Investigation Department Monday.

He also showed a license for exporting the goods, issued by the relevant authorities in South Africa.

Police are verifying the license.

Possession and trading of rhino horns and other wildlife parts is illegal in Vietnam.

Reported by Dam Huy

Well, if they do not even know the correct name of their capital....

Wonder if he is related to these guys:

quote:

Originally posted by infinito:
I got an inquiry from an outfitter four months ago to hunt 5 Rhino bulls in 2 weeks with Vietnamese clients.

I roped him in a bit, and then gave all his details to Riaan de Lange at Mpumalanga Parks Board.

We cannot afford to get involved with these money chasers.

Chris, I can still get Rhino for $1600.00 an inch......but there was an increase in demand from our American friends this year as well, contributing to the increase.

The bigger they are, the bigger the price tag....

Hope to see you soon.............

Cheers

Charl

Other thread:

Rhino hunting market being hijacked?