According to assessments of several international experts, Vietnam has become a hot spot for the smuggling and use of products of wild animals and plants in Southeast Asia.

The country has also been said to serve as a major center for the illegal trading of wild animal products. Many large-volume cross-border smuggling cases have been detected, while the use of elephant tusks and rhino horns, as well as the slaughter of wild animals to serve parties, are still common occurrences amongst Vietnamese people.

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Rhino horns seized at Noi Bai International Airport. Source: antt.vn

Due to these actions, many species of wild animals are at risk of going extinct, thus threatening biodiversity across the region.

Statistics of the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam showed that from 2015-2017, the court handled 231 cases violating regulations on wild and endangered animals with 339 people involved – of whom eight were sentenced to 3-7 years in prison, and 96 received under-3-year imprisonment sentences.

Source: VNA