Manila: Singapore announced on Tuesday the seizure of rhinoceros horns valued at over USD800,000 from a “suspicious shipment” bound for Vientiane, Laos. This represents the largest-ever such confiscation in the city-state’s history.

According to Philippines News Agency, the discovery was made on November 8 when 20 pieces of rhinoceros horns weighing a total of 35.7 kg were identified and confiscated. The alert came from SATS Group, an air cargo handler at Singapore Changi Airport, prompting immediate action from the police and the National Parks Board. This unprecedented seizure surpasses the previous record of 34.7 kg of rhinoceros horns in 2022.

In addition to the rhinoceros horns, approximately 150 kg of other unidentified animal parts were seized. Authorities are currently working to determine the species of these additional parts. The National Parks Board emphasized Singapore’s strict policies, stating that the country maintains a zero-tolerance stance on the illegal trade of endangered wildlife species, along with their parts and derivatives.

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