PHNOM PENH – Cambodian police arrested a man who tried to smuggle rice sacks filled with live black pythons across the border into Vietnam, local media reported on Monday.
The 24-year-old was charged with wildlife smuggling and is in custody awaiting trial, The Cambodia Daily reported.
“We found nearly 100 kg of pythons in four bags placed in his motorcycle trailer,” local police chief Muy Chanpech was quoted as saying in the border province of Kandal.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature reported last week that python skins being sold in Vietnam could in fact be from Cambodia.
“Python skins are traded primarily to meet demands from the fashion industry to make luxury leather products, with Italy, Germany and France being the biggest importers,” it said.
About half a million python skins are exported from South-east Asia each year, the group said. (dpa/NAN)
