Vietnam police seize 676 king cobras smuggled from Laos
Police in Vietnam’s north-central Quang Tri Province said on Thursday they had seized 676 king cobras being illegally transported from Laos and transferred the animals to a military-run facility for custody.
Police officers hand over confiscated king cobras to Dong Tam Snake Farm in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam, December 25, 2025. Photo: Quang Ha
The snakes, weighing a total of about 924 kg, were discovered on December 18 during an inspection of a sleeper bus on National Highway 9 in Lao Bao Commune, where officers found 112 packages being loaded onto the vehicle.
Authorities said the shipment lacked legal documentation and was traced to a local resident who allegedly arranged for the cobras to be brought into Vietnam through unofficial border routes from Laos.
Police said the animals were handed over on Thursday to the Dong Tam Snake Farm in southern Dong Thap Province, operated by the Military Region 9 Logistics and Technical Department.
Police officers hand over confiscated king cobras to Dong Tam Snake Farm in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam, December 25, 2025. Photo: Quang Ha
Police officers hand over confiscated king cobras to Dong Tam Snake Farm in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam, December 25, 2025. Photo: Quang Ha
King cobras are stacked beneath a sleeper bus in Lao Bao Commune, Quang Tri Province, north-central Vietnam, December 18, 2025. Photo: Tran Khoi
A live king cobra is seen inside a mesh bag in Lao Bao Commune, Quang Tri Province, north-central Vietnam, December 18, 2025. Photo: Tran Khoi
Bao Anh - Hoang Tao / Tuoi Tre News
Link nội dung: https://news.tuoitre.vn/vietnam-police-seize-676-king-cobras-smuggled-from-laos-103251226090850384.htm