The national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines has been asked not to carry wildlife, especially sturgeon, without legal certificates of origin.

Several tonnes of Chinese sturgeon illegally imported into Vietnam daily

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) recently issued an official document requiring intensified control over the international trade of animals named in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), including sturgeon.

The move followed a recent rumour that an increasing number of sturgeons have been smuggled into Vietnam by air.

In early July, the Vietnam Cold Water Fish Association said around two or three tonnes of sturgeon were illegally imported into HCM City daily by air. Such fish are said to be dumped in the domestic market, creating unhealthy competition with local products.

Nguyen Van Hong, Deputy Director of Hanoi municipal Department of Customs, denied that claim.

“Air transportation fees are rather high, making the price of sturgeon double what it might be with the added transport and preservation costs," Hong said.

He said that all fresh aquatic and seafood products that are transported by air are strictly controlled and that there have not been any cases found of sturgeon transported through Noi Bai International Airport to date.

“There is a very strict system for detecting and controlling smuggling at Noi Bai Airport. It’s impossible that sturgeon could be illegally imported via the terminal,” he emphasised.

Recently Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan requested that the Ministry of Public Security inspect and report on sturgeon imports.

A report by the ministry’s Environmental Crime Prevention and Fighting Police Department showed that between five and seven tonnes of Chinese sturgeon is imported into Hanoi daily. Many of these imports come with falsified documents from domestic fish farms.

They added that currently major traders often illegally import Chinese aquatic products across the borders at Quang Ninh, Lang Son and Cao Bang Provinces.