MOZAMBIQUE: Vietnamese man arrested in Maputo airport with 11 rhino horns

On Monday (May 2), around 4 pm, the Mozambican authorities at the Maputo International Airport arrested a a Vietnamese citizen , who had earlier checked in with two suitcases with rhino horn and rhino horn pieces.

The authorities arrested the Vietnamese citizen before he could get into the flight Q 870 to Nairobi .

The suitcases had 11 white rhino horns , two of which of large size with the total weight of 19,6 kg, and also two bags with parts of rhino horn disguised as cylinders and remains with the weight of 2,8 kg. The total amount of rhino horn seized was 22,4 Kg.

The suspect is being sent to the prosecutor accused of being involved in poaching and trafficking of parts of a protected species.

This is the second large seizure in 2016 in Maputo International Airport . The previous was on the 11 of March when 23 rhino horns with the weight of 63.9 Kg , 19 lions’ teeth and 57 lion nails were sized but the suspect was able to scape detention.

These seizures were possible due to a better intelligence and coordination, cooperation and communication between those involved in law enforcement.

In the field the authorities had in the present and previous year several successes and several poachers were arrested as well as several weapons with silencers neutralized.

The private concessionaires have played and are playing a crucial role and cooperate with the Mozambican authorities combating wildlife crime as well as with the South African authorities in the Kruger National Park. This has resulted in a lower number of incursions trough the border.

Club of Mozambique