Shocking Discovery in Thanh Hoa Province
Police in Thanh Hoa province, south of Hanoi, made a startling discovery this week when they found two adult tiger carcasses stored in freezers beneath a man’s house. The discovery was part of a larger investigation into illegal wildlife trade in the region. (CNA)
Officers located the frozen bodies, weighing about 400 kilograms in total, in the basement of 52-year-old Hoang Dinh Dat. Authorities said the internal organs had been removed, suggesting the animals were being processed for commercial use. (VietNamNet News)
Arrests and Illegal Wildlife Operation
Dat and a 31-year-old man identified as Nguyen Doan Son have both been arrested in connection with the case. Dat admitted purchasing the tigers through social media for nearly 2 billion Vietnamese dong (around US $80,000) and storing them in a reinforced underground bunker beneath his home, complete with surveillance cameras. (VietNamNet News)
Police allege Dat intended to produce “tiger bone glue,” a traditional product believed by some to have medicinal properties, although there is no scientific evidence supporting such claims. Son told investigators he sourced the carcasses from a Lao national and resold them for profit. (VietNamNet News)
Endangered Species and Ongoing Investigation
Tigers are classified as endangered and strictly protected under both Vietnamese law and international agreements like CITES, of which Vietnam is a party. Offenders who trade, transport, or process endangered animals can face years in prison and substantial fines. (VietNamNet News)
Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the broader network behind the illegal trade and to trace the origin of the carcasses. Conservation groups have long warned that Southeast Asia remains a hotspot for wildlife trafficking, often driven by demand for traditional remedies and animal parts. (CNA)
