Anteater, iguana carcasses seized

— Police in northern Vietnam have seized 5 tons of pangolin and iguana carcasses destined to be shipped to restaurants in China.

State-run newspaper Thanh Nien said police found the frozen carcasses Wednesday in a warehouse in Mong Cai town near the Chinese border.

Pangolins - a type of scaly anteater - and iguanas are considered delicacies in China and Vietnam. They are protected under an international wildlife convention and trafficking of the animals is illegal.

The news report quoted the 30-year-old trader who had the carcasses as telling police he had bought the animals in central Vietnam and intended to sell them to China. The report did not say whether the trader was arrested.

Front Section, Pages 8 on 03/24/2012

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