Woman caught with ivory at Vietnam airport

Last Updated: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 09:00:00

A woman was caught at Hanoi airport with 19 kilograms of ivory and ivory products Monday, Lao Dong newspaper reported.
A team of officials from the Hanoi Market Management Department on duty outside Noi Bai International Airport felt suspicious and asked to checkNghiem Thi Hoa's suitcase.

They found 677 pieces of ivory weighing 19 kilograms besides 15 bracelets, 90 pairs of chopsticks, and 10 chains made of ivory.

Hoa, 57, of the northern Ninh Binh Province, confessed to bringing the ivory from Angola to sell here.

Customs officials had failed to find the ivory and she had almost got into a car when the market officials confronted her.

They seized the goods and got Hoa to sign off on a list of violations.

Vietnam banned the ivory trade in 1992.