Joint Operation Seizes 10.1 kg of Protected Wildlife Parts at Wattay International Airport

On 15 May 2026, the relevant authorities stationed at Wattay International Airport, including Customs officers, Immigration Police, and Animal and Plant Quarantine officers, conducted an inspection operation and successfully intercepted an attempted transnational smuggling of protected wildlife parts.

This operation was the result of effective coordination and close cooperation among the law enforcement agencies under the Lao Wildlife Enforcement Network (LAO-WEN), including the Customs Department, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Inspection, the Environmental Police Department, Immigration Police, and Animal Quarantine officers.

During the X-ray screening of passenger luggage from flight QV 924 at approximately 15:30 hrs, authorities detected suspicious objects concealed inside souvenir statues. The passenger had departed from Angola on 12 May 2026 on flight EK 794, transiting through second and third countries before arriving in the Lao PDR.

A physical inspection revealed wildlife-like specimens suspected to be protected wildlife parts, consisting of four rhinoceros horn-like items with a total weight of 10.1 kilograms (including packaging materials).

The suspect in this case is a male Vietnamese national.

Following the incident, the law enforcement authorities under the LAO-WEN network will continue further investigation and legal proceedings in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Lao PDR.

Photos by: Khanvichit / Phonesay
News by: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Inspection
Information Technology and Information Division, Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment

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