Vietnam confiscates smuggled rhino horns worth $4 million

HANOI — Vietnam’s customs authority has confiscated 125 kilograms of rhino horns worth up to $4 million in an air shipment.

The state-run Vietnam News reported Monday that the 55 pieces of horns were concealed inside plaster blocks. They were discovered Thursday.

According to Vietnam’s customs, the shipment was declared as non-taxable material to avoid customs check as it arrived at Hanoi’s international airport.

Vietnam and China are frequent destinations for trafficked rhino horns.

Many believe the horns can be used to cure various illnesses including cancer. But there has been no proof there is a medicinal benefit from the horns, which are made of keratin, the same component of human hair and nails. /kga