Singapore Confiscates 20 Rhino Horns At Changi Airport Worth IDR 13 billion, Making It The Biggest Arrest In History

Photo @ChangiAirport

SINGAPORE - Officers from the National Parks Council (NParks) are suspicious of passengers at Changi Airport, Singapore carrying two bags. And after being checked, Singapore was surprised.

Airport security and NParks K9 Unit detected and inspected two bags. Inside were found 34 kg of rhino horn which is estimated to be worth around S$1.2 million or nearly IDR 13 billion, as quoted by Channel News Asia, Wednesday 5 October.

This is Singapore's largest rhino horn seizure to date, NParks added.

"The owner of the bag, who traveled from South Africa to the Lao People's Democratic Republic via Singapore, was immediately arrested and the rhino horn confiscated by NParks."

Rhinos are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), signed by Singapore.

Under CITES, international trade in rhino horn is prohibited.

Singapore is committed to international efforts to curb the illegal wildlife trade to ensure the long-term survival of these animals, NParks said.

"Genetic testing is being carried out at the NParks Wildlife Forensic Center to identify the rhino species," NParks added.

"The horns will then be destroyed to prevent them from re-entering the market, disrupting the global supply chain of illegally traded rhino horn."

"Singapore adopts a zero-tolerance attitude towards the illegal trade in endangered wildlife species, and their parts and derivatives," said NParks.