Since scientists determined that coronavirus is likely to be transmitted from an animal to a human, Asian countries have issued statements pledging to ban animal trafficking. Today, data show that, at least in Vietnam, authorities are strictly enforcing the ban.
According to the environmental organization Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV), the percentage of arrests in wildlife trafficking cases in Vietnam reached 97% in the first half of this year. From 2015 to 2019, the figure has remained stable at around 87 percent.
Scientists believe that the coronavirus pandemic may have started after human contact with infected bats or pangolins in China. Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries often serve as a conduit for such illegal hunting products to end up in China, and in recent years, Vietnamese police have continued to seize scaly mammal pangolins that look like armadillos, as well as endangered turtles, gibbons, and langurs.
Increasing emphasis on
Bui Thi Ha, Deputy Director of Vietnam Conservation Education, said, “Vietnam Conservation Education’s prosecution analysis shows us the power of the existing criminal law and proves that Vietnam’s law enforcement and criminal courts are stepping up their efforts to combat wildlife poaching criminals.” The statute was revised in 2018. “Since the new law went into effect, especially in 2020, evidence shows that Vietnam is taking wildlife trafficking crimes more seriously.”
Environmental protection experts said that after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus outbreak, stopping potential sources of disease and any harm to wildlife and ending wildlife trafficking and smuggling has become more urgent. Social media Facebook has also responded by removing hundreds of postings offering illegally hunted animals and animal body parts in Southeast Asia.
In Vietnam, in addition to an increase in the rate of arrests, there has been a similar increase in the rate of incarceration of offenders. According to data collected by the Vietnam Education for the Protection of Nature, the percentage of animal trafficking cases that went to trial this year reached 68% of the total number of prison sentences. In comparison, the percentage from 2015 to 2019 did not exceed 49%.
Prison.
In an analysis of 552 cases over the past five years, Vietnam Nature Conservation Education said, “This shows that the court’s stance in seeking to eradicate wildlife crime in 2020 is stronger than in previous years.”
Conservation Education Vietnam argues that if trafficking in animals and plants is to be ended once and for all, the next step should be to turn attention to the leaders of trafficking groups, as well as the state officials behind them. The Southeast Asian country could also focus law enforcement efforts on ports and airports, as well as money laundering, Conservation Education Vietnam said.
Vietnam says it is taking a “whole-of-government” approach to enforcement. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued a directive in July to ban the import and sale of wildlife products. The prime minister’s order assigns the task to every administrative unit, from the Defense Ministry to increase border patrols to the Health Ministry to check pharmacies for medicines with illegal animal ingredients.
The State Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that they would implement the directive by increasing investigations of transnational criminals and “imposing severe penalties on planners and leaders who abuse their positions and authority to commit crimes.
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