Grim haul for traffic cops
2012-07-31 09:52
CHILLING DISCOVERY MADE: Two speedsters will most likely be facing a lengthy jail term after police discovered the remains of two frozen tigers amongst other animal remains.
Author: PHAM BAC
HANOI, Vietnam - Traffic police in Vietnam arrested two men who had been stopped for speeding, when police made a grim discovery - the remains of two frozen tigers.
There were also tortoise shells and bones believed to belong to wild animals and 14 fake car registration plates.
Police arrested the driver, Ho Van Bang (41) and his passenger Nguyen Van Ngon (39), for transporting wild-animal parts, the head of the traffic police department in Quang Binh province, Nguyen Quoc Tuong, said.
ILLEGAL ANIMAL TRADE
Tuong added: "The two men tried to run away, but the police detained them. The first tried to bribe the police $250 (R2045), but the police refused. The men increased their offer of bribes to R8184, but the police were determined to arrest them."
The tigers weighed about 90kg and one was skinned.
Illegal trafficking in tigers, monkeys and other rare animals is widespread in Vietnam and China, where their bones and other body parts are often used in traditional medicine.
A kilogram of pure tiger-bone paste can sell for the equivalent of R40 000 on the black market. Tiger paste is used to treat ailments such as headaches.
Hunting or trading in rare animals is punishable by a prison term of up to seven years and a fine of up to 20 million dong (R7800).
