Seventy-six wild pangolins were rescued from being smuggled to China on March 3, 2019. Police officers became suspicious about a truck they were in after noticing a strong odour. The truck driver arrested in the case said he was asked to transport the pangolins to a cargo ship heading for China. He is facing charges of illegal possession of protected wildlife.
Pangolins are among the most trafficked wild mammals. The protected species is in high demand in China and Vietnam for use in traditional Chinese medicine. Some practitioners claim pangolin scales and blood from the animals can treat numerous diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, asthma, cancer, and reproductive problems. There is no scientific evidence to support such health claims.
