By Quyen Vu | Manager
Between March and June this year, our crime fighters received 1,205 new wildlife crime cases, comprising 3,961 individual violations. A large number of these violations (2,490) related to advertising and selling wildlife on social media, including a case involving the sale of 120 turtle wine bottles.
Our team, in cooperation with volunteers, informants, and law enforcement agencies, has successfully addressed 433 cases and saved 2,358 live animals, including many wild birds and turtles, from the illegal trade. Additionally, more than 500 kg of wildlife parts and products were confiscated, among them 243 kg of ivory, 28 kg of tiger bone, and 240 kg of African pangolin scales.
Below are summaries of some of the notable successes during this period:
On March 4, 2026, Ninh Binh Provincial Police, in cooperation with ENV, arrested two men and confiscated 28kg of tiger bone from a local residence during a sting operation. Two brothers were arrested: one owned the house where the tiger bones were found, and the other was the owner of the illegal goods. Both were prosecuted (Case ref. 34503/ENV).
On March 23, 2026, Facebook deactivated a wildlife trading group called "Vietnam turtle group", following a report submitted by ENV through the Ministry of Communication. The group had 69,304 members and was first reported to ENV by a member of the public in September 2025 for advertising various reptile species such as turtles and geckos (Case ref. 34544/ENV).
On March 23, 2026, Facebook deactivated a wildlife trading group called "Alexandrine parakeet group", following a report submitted by ENV through the Ministry of Communication. The group had 34,762 members and was first reported to ENV by a member of the public in 2025 for advertising various parrot species (Case ref. 34886/ENV).
On March 24, 2026, Hanoi Police, in cooperation with ENV, conducted a sting operation resulting in the seizure of five hornbill rostrums and the arrest of the supplier and his wife. Simultaneous raids were carried out at a warehouse in Hanoi, uncovering 4.5 tonnes of illegal cigarettes (80,200 packs) and leading to one additional arrest. As part of the same operation, further raids targeted another warehouse in Quang Ninh owned by a tier 1 transnational wildlife trafficker, where authorities seized 243 kg of ivory and 240 kg of pangolin scales. A fourth subject was arrested while another surrendered to the police after two months in hiding. One suspect is still wanted for questioning (Case ref. 8695/ENV).
On March 6, 2026, Phu My FPD, in cooperation with the Economic Department of Tam Thang Ward PC in Ho Chi Minh City, responded to a public report via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated 10 Chinese stripe-necked turtles (Mauremys sinensis) from a local temple. The turtles were released back into nature (Case ref. 19620/ENV).
On March 16, 2026, Hai Hau Commune Police in Ninh Binh province, in cooperation with ENV, arrested a man and confiscated an Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) trophy from his house during a sting operation. The subject claimed that the trophy belonged to his older brother, and police subsequently arrested the brother as well. Both were issued a prosecution decision (Case ref. 36681/ENV).
On March 24, 2026, the Thua Luu FPD station in Hue City responded to a public report via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated 400 meters of bird nets, 50 fake egrets, and a speaker from a local field. The hunting tools were destroyed (Case ref. 36778/ENV).
On March 23, 2026, Facebook deactivated a wildlife trading group called "Three-region night-bird group - Wildlife", following a report submitted by ENV through the Ministry of Communication. The group had 54,124 members and was first reported to ENV by a member of the public in 2024 for advertising civets, shorebirds, and other wildlife (Case ref. 30416/ENV).
On March 27, 2026, Da Nang Area No. 11 FPD responded to a report via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated 30 Chinese softshell turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis) from a fish stall at a major local market. The turtles were released back into the wild (Case ref. 35602/ENV).
On April 3, 2026, with support from ENV, Mobile Team 2 of Ho Chi Minh City FPD received six turtles, including four elongated tortoises (Indotestudo elongata), one giant Asian pond turtle (Heosemys grandis), and one Vietnamese pond turtle (Mauremys annamensis), from a local man. All the turtles were placed at the Dau Tieng rescue center (Case ref. 36808/ENV).
On May 15, 2026, Ham Thuan Nam FPD, in cooperation with Tien Thanh Ward Police in Lam Dong province, responded to a report via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated two pygmy lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus) from a residential house. The lorises were released back into nature (Case ref. 37401/ENV).
On May 16, 2026, the Economic Police of Hai Phong City Police responded to a public report via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated 829 songbirds from a local shop. The shop owner was prosecuted. The birds were released into the wild (Case ref. 26860/ENV).
On May 16, 2026, the Economic Police of Hai Phong City Police responded to a public report via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated 101 songbirds from a shop. The shop owner was arrested for her second related crime, and all birds were released into the wild (Case ref. 35771/ENV).
On May 28, 2026, with the support of ENV, Khanh Hoa authorities received an oriental small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea) from a local resident. The woman reported that the otter had wandered into her house two years ago, after which she kept and raised it. The otter was placed at Cat Tien National Park Rescue Center (Case ref. 35152/ENV).
On June 11, 2026, Tay Ninh provincial authorities responded to an ENV online crime report, comprising an online supplier's profile and evidence of violations, and confiscated a large quantity of tortoises and wild birds, consisting of 6 cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus), 6 red lories (Eos bornea), 6 green-cheeked parakeets (Pyrrhura molinae), and 92 Sulcata tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata) from the subject's house (Case ref. 34110/ENV).
On behalf of our crime fighters, I would like to thank you all for your continuous support of our important work in Vietnam. These achievements would not be possible without your strong support.
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By Quyen Vu | Project Leader
By Leo Campos | Project Leader
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