On the Trail - Robin des Bois

Seizure of 25kg of pangolin scales /
Davangere, State of Karnataka, India / August 12, 2013
The suppliers of the trafficker from Chinoga had been so far specialised in capturing
snakes. The scales were to be sold to a wholesaler in Chennai, State of Tamil-Nadu.
A Regional Police Official mentions the planned exportation towards China and what seems
to be a new use that adds to the classic medical uses : the scales are used to make bullet proof jackets.
A growing market that renews and expands ancient practices (Cf. On The Trail #1).
Seizure of 14 pangolins (105 kg) / Mong Cai, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam /August 14, 2013
The drivers of the vehicles taking the pangolins towards China escaped.
Seizure of 28 dead Pangolins / Fangchenggang, Guangxi Province, China / 15 August 2013
After a chase, the 307 Peugeot was intercepted near West Bay Bridge. The driver fled. When the police officers
acted on intelligence and opened the trunk, they were struck by an awful stench. In plastic bags, there were 28
dead pangolins with their precious scales.
Seizure of 33 pangolins / Sembawa, Regency of Banyuasin, Province of South Sumatra, Indonesia / August
21, 2013
Their final destination is unknown. The pangolins were bought from local trappers for 9.5 US$/kg and sold again
for 14 US$/kg to a middleman in the Province of Jambi. The driver of the Toyota says to have been paid US$ 21.5
per day to travel the 500km. He had made so far 5 deliveries.
Seizure of 60 pangolins / Fangchenggang, Guangxi Province, China / August 26, 2013
Another routine check in the Chinese province of Guangxi border of Vietnam ending with the pursuit of a suspicious
car and a fleeing driver. Inside the vehicle trunk, police found 60 pangolins, some of them still alive.
One man sentenced to one-year prison term of which 6 months suspended sentence and US$ 820 fine
Nanjing, Province of Jiangsu, China / August 26, 2013
On the 5 th of December 2012, 0.9 kg of pangolin meat had been found in a freezer. The hotel restaurant would
prepare pangolin meat following customers’ request.
Seizure of pangolin scales (weight unknown) / Vairengte, State of Mizoram, India / August 29, 2013
The abominable door to door of pangolin scales continues. Bought in Shillong, capital city of the State of Meghalaya,
they arrived to this village of the State of Mizoram. They were then to be exported by road, air and sea
towards China, Hong Kong, Taiwan or South Korea according to Indian border police who estimates the value
of the seizure around US$ 37,000.
Seizure of 104 pangolins (233 kg) / Hung Yen, Province of Hung Yen, Vietnam / August 30, 2013
The car was carrying 104 pangolins. Anti- trafficking services stopped it. The driver and passenger escaped. They
were found soon after.
Seizure of 6.2 t of live pangolins / Hai Phong Port, Vietnam / August, 2013
The pangolins were hidden in a container declared to be carrying sea products and coming from Indonesia. The
Company importing the container, Long Thanh Trading, is based in the town of Mong Cai (Province of Quang
Ninh, Vietnam). The merchandise was in transit in the Hai Phong Port before it would have been re-exported.
Authorities did not specify the number of pangolins. Nevertheless, in view of the seizure of 10 t (2,870 pangolins)
on April 30 2013 in the Philippines, a close estimation would be 1500/2000. This is not the first such event.
Border police have already seized 1.2 tonnes of scales and 10 tonnes of pangolin meat passing through the Ha
Pong port.
Seizure of 300 g of Chinese pangolin Scales (Manis pentadactyla) / Lamatar, Central Development Region,
Nepal / August 2013
He had captured and killed a poor pangolin in the mountains. The 300 g of scales had been found in his garden.
Seizure of 102 live pangolins / Khon Kaen, Province of Khon Kaen, Thailand / September 1, 2013
A pickup truck was spotted in a petrol station by a highway police patrol unit. Suspicions arouse due to a strong
stench from the back of the vehicle. A search revealed the presence of pangolins in back compartment of the
pickup. They were placed in 50 cages. The total value of the seizure is estimated at US$ 31,400. Both the driver
and passenger managed to escape in the car of an accomplice.
Seizure of 17 live pangolins / Shenzhen, Province of Guangdong, China / September 2, 2013
In the «laboratory», police found the 17 pangolins in a pitiful state next to bowls full of maize porridge and
syringes. Before selling the live pangolins to restaurants, the 2 traffickers would force feed them to increase their
weight and price. A live pangolin sells up to US $ 2,000.
Seizure of 16 kg of pangolin scales / Kathmandu, Central Region, Nepal / September 8, 2013
On paper, the 5 suspects face a US $ 1,000 fine and 15 years in prison, maximum sentences.
Seizure of 200 live pangolins / Province of Udon Thani, Thailand / 16 th September 2013
The anteaters were discovered in 2 pick-up trucks checked by a patrol. The drivers fled.
On The Trail # 2. Robin des Bois
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