Crackdown on Smuggling and Illegal Slaughter of Diseased Pigs Ahead of Lunar New Year

With the Lunar New Year approaching, authorities are intensifying efforts to combat illegal pig smuggling and the slaughter of diseased animals. The Environmental Police Department recently disrupted an operation involving the illegal transport of pigs from Cambodia to Vietnam. In Ben Cau district, police confiscated 531 pigs and three trucks, arresting individuals involved in transporting the animals without proper veterinary quarantine or declaration. In a separate incident in Bien Hoa city, authorities uncovered a group that had collected over 250 tons of pigs suspected of having African swine fever, slaughtering them for food distribution and generating illegal profits exceeding 4 billion VND. Increased demand for pork during the holiday season often leads to a surge in smuggling. Authorities urge strict control over the transportation of pigs and pork products, particularly across borders, emphasizing the importance of adhering to safety standards to prevent disease spread.