3 charged with selling pigs infected with African swine fever in Vietnam

The trio, identified as 35-year-old H.D.T., N.T.K.L., 24-year-old T.V.D., are banned from leaving their places of residence during the investigation.

On July 23, the provincial economic police unit, together with the provincial animal husbandry and veterinary division and local police, inspected a slaughterhouse owned by Vo Bay in Quang Tri Ward, where the forces found H.D.T. and P.T.H. slaughtering pigs.

P.T.H. then transported two pigs without quarantine stamps by motorbike to deliver to N.T.K.L. for retail sale, but was intercepted.

At the site, officers also discovered one pig already slaughtered and 19 others showing signs of African swine fever.

Among the 22 pigs, 18 belonged to H.D.T., who had purchased them from T.V.D. without invoices or veterinary certificates.

Laboratory tests later confirmed that 16 pigs were infected with African swine fever, with a total weight of 742 kilograms, valued at around VND45 million (US$1,710).

Authorities said the case remains under further investigation and will be handled in accordance with the law.