Restaurant chef in Da Nang buys 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: CA

The Economic Police Department (Da Nang Police) has just issued a decision to temporarily detain 3 suspects to investigate the act of transporting and trading rare animals - Java pangolins.

Notably, this animal was purchased by the people involved to prepare to serve diners at a local pub.

According to initial information, previously, people went to An Khe Ward Police ( Da Nang ) to hand over an animal suspected to be a pangolin discovered in the consignment transported on a passenger bus running the Quy Nhon - Da Nang route.

The ward police have transferred the information to the Economic Police Department for coordination in the investigation.

Determining that the case had signs of violating regulations on wildlife protection, the leader of the Economic Police Department reported to Colonel Nguyen Ha Lai - Deputy Director, Head of the Investigation Police Agency of Da Nang Police - to deploy forces to verify and investigate.

Conduct a consultation with the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to quickly appraise the above evidence and animal as a Javan pangolin listed in the list of endangered and rare species (group IB, according to the Vietnam Red Book and strictly protected).

Through investigation, the police determined that the pangolin was ordered 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 diners.

Expanding the investigation, the Economic Police Department coordinated with the commune police in Quang Ngai province to identify the two people who sold the Java 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 said to be the ringleaders who specialize in purchasing and supplying wild animals to restaurants in need.

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