Vietnam police seize frozen pangolins, iguanas

Vietnamese police have seized five tonnes of frozen pangolins and iguanas that were destined for the cooking pot in China, an official said Friday.

"We found the animals after a random check on Wednesday. They were supposed to be sent for consumption in China," a provincial anti-smuggling policeman told AFP.

The 29-year-old owner of the animals has not been arrested but "an investigation is ongoing and the case will be sent to prosecutors soon for a decision", added the policeman, who did not wish to be named.

Pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters, are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, and trading of the animal and its products is illegal.

Demand for pangolin and iguana meat, which supposedly have medicinal and aphrodisiac qualities, is widespread in China and in Vietnam, which have a poor conservation records.