Environment police in Hanoi’s Cau Giay District have cracked a wildlife slaughter ring that was supplying restaurants with illicit meat.

The breakthrough came on December 12, when police stopped a motorbike, which was transporting two pangolins, five civets and a porcupine.

Two pangolins seized from a motorbike while on the way to restaurants in Hanoi on December 12.

After interrogating the driver, they found a slaughter operation at Phu My Village in My Dinh Commune, Nam Tu Liem District, discovering many wild animals, including pangolins, civets and porcupines, in cages. Some had already been processed for delivery to restaurants.

 Many wild animals are kept at a slaughter house in Phu My Village in My Dinh Commune, Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi.

Processed pangolins found at a slaughter house in Phu My Village in My Dinh Commune, Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi.

Evidence was found of force-feeding the creatures to boost their weight.

The smuggling and consumption of pangolins has become more rampant in Vietnam. The Centre for Education for Nature of Vietnam said they had dealt with 87 cases involving pangolins, scaly mammals belonging to the ant-eater family of species, so far this year.

The director of ENV, Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung, praised the quick police response and said those responsible for the trafficking of wildlife would be vigorously prosecuted.