Singapore has recorded its largest-ever seizure of rhinoceros horns after discovering 20 pieces worth S$1.13 million (US$867,000) in an air cargo shipment labelled “furniture fittings”, transshipped from South Africa to Laos through the city state’s Changi Airport.
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The smuggled parts, totalling 35.7kg (78.8lbs) in weight, were detected in four cargo batches bound for Vientiane and seized on November 8, Singapore’s National Parks Board (NParks) and air cargo handler SATS said on Tuesday.
This marks the largest seizure of rhinoceros horns in the country to date, surpassing the previous 34.7kg (76.5lbs) seized in October 2022, also on the same transshipment route.
Investigations into the source and receiver of the latest cargo were under way, said Anna Wong, NParks’ senior director of wildlife trade.
“Demand is the key driver for this illegal wildlife trade,” Wong said. “The community can play a part by ensuring their purchases do not contain these wildlife specimens. Rhino horns are believed to have medicinal values, but actually, rhino horns are just made of keratin, like your nails and your hair.”
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