Two Tigers Seized in Hanoi (October 16, 2009)
On October 16, Hanoi Environmental Police made another important tiger bust, seizing two frozen tigers (129kg total) from a taxi and arresting four suspects. The tigers were reportedly being transported to from Thanh Hoa province where suspects claimed they were purchased from a well-known tiger supplier. According to ENV investigators, the Thanh Hoa trader resides in the very same village as one of the country’s six “tiger farmers” that were recently registered to keep illegal tigers found in their possession for conservation breeding purposes.
ENV is working with authorities to clarify links between the recent seizure and the Thanh Hoa farm where ENV investigators believe the tigers originated, and if confirmed, will urge authorities to shut down the Thanh Hoa farm, confiscate tigers there, and prosecute the farm owner.