A Vietnamese man was arrested in possession of a frozen tiger before he was able to sell the body of the endangered animal to collectors, state media reported Tuesday.
Pham Hai Nam and frozen tiger carcass hidden in his car Photo: Dat Viet
Pham Hai Nam told police he bought the animal for VND600 million (US$30,800) in the northeastern port town of Hai Phong and planned to sell it for $46,000, according to An Ninh Thu Do newspaper.
The 39-year-old, who was detained in Hanoi Monday, also reportedly told police he would crush the tiger's bones to make traditional medicine if he failed to find a buyer for the whole carcass.
The animal, which weighed 150 kilograms (330 pounds) and was 1.5 meters (five feet) long, has been given to the Museum of Nature for preservation, the report said.
It is believed the tiger was smuggled into Vietnam from overseas.
Environment police in Hanoi declined to comment.
The natural habitat of tigers has been threatened by rapid urbanization in Asia where they are hunted for fur and body parts used in traditional medicine.