According to the police's reports, the arrest was made during their traffic inspection on the evening of April 15 when Chao A Lai, 32, was driving a car on the Dung Quyet Road.

Checking the car, police found 21 crates filled with 420 live animals of various rare wild species including parrots, kangaroos, turtles, snakes, and monkeys.

Chao A Lai failed to provide any legal documents proving the origin of these animals. He admitted that he transported them from the central province Ha Tinh to the northern province of Ha Nam at a request of an unknown individual for VND15 million (USD590).

Nghe An Police have transferred the animals to the Pu Mat National Park for care before releasing them into the wild.

The case is under further investigation.