Rhino Horn Smugglers Arrested in Thailand and Vietnam

Authorities in Thailand and Vietnam arrested two rhino horn smugglers and confiscated ten rhino horns in two separate incidents on January 6^th, 2013.

Thai authorities received a tip-off which led to the arrest of Pham Quang Loc at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. The Vietnamese national arrived from Addis Ababa on Ethiopia Airlines flight ET618. Four rhino horns weighing 10.6 kg were found in his luggage, according to Thai Rath. The horns were cut into six pieces and hidden inside a hippo figurine.

FREELAND Foundation has posted a photo album of the bust here.

In Vietnam, a suspect identified as Ha Chan Chinh was arrested at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City after he arrived from Doha via Bangkok on Qatar Airways flight 616. Thanhnien.com reports that six rhino horns weighing a total of 16.5 kg were discovered wrapped in foil inside his luggage. Police told TuoiTre News that a “stinking odor” prompted the search. Chinh said he had transported the horns from Mozambique.

Here’s to the Thai and Vietnamese authorities!

Rhishja Cota

I am the founder of Annamiticus and I have been researching and writing about wildlife trafficking issues since 2009. I also founded World Pangolin Day in 2012. I am the author of USAID Wildlife Asia's Pangolin Species Identification Guide: A Rapid Assessment Tool for Field and Desk. I co-facilitated and was a presenter at the USAID Wildlife Asia Pangolin Care Workshop. At the 4th Regional Dialogue on Combating Trafficking of Wild Fauna and Flora, I facilitated the species roundtables on pangolins. I have trekked with forest rangers in Cambodia, journeyed to the streets of Hanoi to research the illegal wildlife trade, and to the rainforests of Sumatra and Java to document the world’s rarest rhinos. At CITES meetings, I collaborate with colleagues from around the world to lobby in favor of protecting endangered species. I hosted the Behind the Schemes podcast and am the author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine. I enjoy music, desert gardening, herping, reading, creating, and walking with my dogs. Check out my t-shirts and stickers at snoots + teefers.