Singapore seizes largest-ever rhinoceros horns worth over US800K

Anadolu, Philippine News Agency

(Pexels photo)

ISTANBUL – Singapore on Tuesday said that rhinoceros horns worth over USD800,000 were seized from a “suspicious shipment” en route to Vientiane, Laos, in its largest ever such catch.

On Nov. 8, some 20 pieces of rhinoceros horns weighing 35.

7 kg were discovered and seized after SATS Group, an air cargo handler at Singapore Changi Airport, alerted the police, the National Parks Board said in a statement Tuesday, on the US social media company Facebook.

“This is the largest-ever seizure of rhinoceros horns in Singapore, surpassing the previous record of 34.7 kg in 2022,” it said.

Some 150 kg of other unidentified animal parts were also seized, and authorities are still determining their species.

“Singapore takes a zero-tolerance stance on the illegal trade of endangered wildlife species, and their parts and derivatives,” it said.

The penalties for transporting animals protected under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) through Singapore without valid permits include a fine of up to 200,000 Singaporean dollars (USD153,680) for each specimen and/or up to eight years’ imprisonment.