Restaurant chef in Da Nang bought rare pangolin, detained with 2 sellers

The chef who bought the pangolin and the couple who supplied the "goods" were detained by the police.

The pangolin was handed over to the Vinpearl River Safari Nam Hoi An biodiversity conservation facility for rescue and care - Photo: Police

The Economic Police Department (Da Nang City Police) has just issued a decision to temporarily detain three suspects for investigation into the act of transporting and trading rare animals - Javan pangolins.

Notably, the animals were purchased by those involved to be served to customers at a local eatery.

According to initial information, residents had previously handed over an animal suspected to be a pangolin to the An Khe Ward Police Station ( Da Nang ), which was discovered in checked baggage being transported on a passenger bus traveling the Quy Nhon - Da Nang route.

The ward police have forwarded the information to the Economic Police Department for coordinated investigation.

Determining that the incident showed signs of violating regulations on wildlife protection, the head of the Economic Police Department reported to Colonel Nguyen Ha Lai - Deputy Director and Head of the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Da Nang Public Security Department - to deploy forces to verify and investigate.

Following a request to the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology for a quick assessment, the seized animal was identified as the Javan pangolin, a species listed as endangered and rare (belonging to group IB, according to the Vietnamese Red Book and strictly protected).

Through investigation, the police determined that the pangolin in question was purchased by Nguyen Van Hoang (32 years old, from Quang Ngai province; currently residing in Ngu Hanh Son ward, Da Nang) - a chef at a restaurant in the ward - to prepare dishes for customers.

Expanding the investigation, the Economic Police Department, in coordination with the commune police in Quang Ngai province, identified the two people who sold the Javan pangolins to Hoang as Huynh Thi Thu Thuy (56 years old) and Tran Duc Ngu (59 years old, Thuy's husband, both residing in Quang Ngai).

This couple is believed to be the ringleaders who specialize in buying and supplying wild animals to restaurants that need them.

The Economic Police Department also handed over the pangolin to the Vinpearl River Safari Nam Hoi An biodiversity conservation facility for rescue and care.

DOAN CUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dau-bep-nha-hang-o-da-nang-mua-te-te-quy-hiem-bi-tam-giu-cung-2-nguoi-ban-20250722174758224.htm