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Vietnamese man jailed for smuggling rhino horns, horn shavings through Singapore

Smuggled rhino horns and horn shavings that were seized. PHOTO: AVA
Smuggled rhino horns and horn shavings that were seized. PHOTO: AVA

A 29-year-old Vietnamese man has been jailed 15 months for smuggling illegal rhino horns and horn shavings through Singapore, said the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) on Monday (26 February).

Nguyen Vinh Hai’s sentence was backdated to 6 September 2017. He was apprehended on 31 August 2017 following joint efforts by AVA, Singapore Customs and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to investigate an attempt to smuggle illegal wildlife products through the Republic.

Nguyen, who was flying from Dubai to Laos via Singapore, was stopped upon arrival at Changi Airport and his luggage inspected. Eight pieces of cut horns and a bag of alleged horn shavings were detected and seized. Nguyen was then arrested.

DNA analysis confirmed that the horns and shavings were derived from the rhinoceros, a critically endangered species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna or Flora (CITES).

Rhino horns have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of ailments ranging from fevers to convulsions to epilepsy. Vietnam is reportedly the biggest hub in the world for illegal rhino horn trafficking.

In Singapore, it is an offence to illegally import and export/re-export, transit, possess, sell, offer/advertise for sale or display to public any illegal wildlife species (including their parts and derivatives) protected under CITES.

A person who is convicted faces a fine of up to $500,000 and/or 2 years’ jail, and forfeiture of the contraband.

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