HANOI, Jul 14 (NNN-VNA) – Four Vietnamese nationals have been sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison, for trafficking 984 kg of pangolin scales, local media reported yesterday.
This was one of the biggest cases of wildlife trading, so far, in the country, daily newspaper, Vietnam News, reported.
Among them, a woman from the northern Vinh Phuc province, who was the leader in the case, was sentenced to seven years in prison, while another woman, from the capital, Hanoi, was jailed for five years for her role as a broker.
Meanwhile, two other criminals from Vinh Phuc province were sentenced to four and two years in prison, respectively, for illegally transporting the scales.
Pangolin is a protected wild animal, as a result of increasing demand for its meat and scales. Some pangolin species have been listed in the red book by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, as endangered species.
Vietnamese laws prohibit the hunting, killing, caging, trading or transport of wild animals.– NNN-VNA
