The Prime Minister has recently issued a directive on urgent measures to prevent and combat infringements of wildlife protection.
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| Officials save wild animals from illegal trading__Photo: vietnamnet.vn |
Under Directive No. 28/CT-TTg dated September 17, the Prime Minister highlights remarkable efforts in fighting and razing international wildlife trafficking rings over the past time. However, he mentions difficulties and shortcomings that challenge law enforcement, such as the manipulation and sale of elephant ivory and rhino horns in several localities.
To address these problems, the Prime Minister requests provincial-level People’s Committees to direct local agencies and units to inspect and strictly handle the illegal trade of elephant ivory and rhino horns; conduct inspections at craft villages, traditional medicine production units, souvenir shops at tourist attractions, airports and train stations; and publicize the handling results in the mass media. He also points the responsibility of heads of local authorities for violations in areas under their management.
In addition, the Ministry of Public Security is directed to work with the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to crack down transnational organized rings involved in smuggling, storage, transportation, export, import and temporary import for re-export of wild plants and animals, especially elephant ivory and rhino horns.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development must direct the Vietnam CITES Management Authority to increase cooperation in information sharing, investigation, seizure and handling of illegal acts, and work with the Ministry of Information and Communications to launch campaigns to promote public awareness about wildlife protection.
According to the Directive, agencies competent to investigate, prosecute, adjudicate and settle administrative violations must review cases involving violations of export, import, transport, trade, storage, advertisement and use of wild plants and animals, and quickly handle such cases in accordance with law.- (VLLF)
