Stevanus Donny Kurnain (left) and Ngo Duy Linh. Photo: Khanh Hoa Police
The two suspects are Stevanus Donny Kurnain, 25, an Indonesian national, and Ngo Duy Linh, 41, a resident of Bac Nha Trang Ward, Khanh Hoa.
On August 17, the economic police division of Khanh Hoa Police, in coordination with the Cam Ranh International Airport police station and Bac Cam Ranh Ward Police, inspected the checked luggage of Kurnain and Linh, who were passengers on a Scoot flight from Singapore to Cam Ranh.
The authorities found 112 plastic bags containing more than 180,000 live lobster seedlings in their checked luggage.
The two men told police that they had communicated with an unidentified person via WhatsApp and agreed to carry the lobster seedlings from Singapore to Vietnam for a fee of 3 million Indonesian rupiah (US$169).
They were caught after arriving at Cam Ranh Airport at noon on August 17.
The two suspects and four suitcases containing lobster seedlings were found in their luggage. Photo: Khanh Hoa Police
An examination determined that all of the lobsters were seedlings, with an estimated value of more than VND7 billion ($268,554), or VND40,000 ($1.5) per lobster.
The shipment had not been declared to customs upon entry into Vietnam and was not accompanied by quarantine certificates, invoices or documents proving its origin.
The case is under further investigation in accordance with the law.
