SINGAPORE – More than 830kg of Asian pangolin scales transiting through Singapore were seized by the authorities. This is Singapore’s largest seizure of Asian pangolin scales, estimated to be from more than 2,200 of the animals.
Smugglers had disguised the sea cargo carried on a lorry travelling from Indonesia to Cambodia as dried fish skin.
The cargo was intercepted by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers in Jurong on Dec 29, 2025, after detection systems and image analysts noticed anomalies.
The National Parks Board (NParks) confirmed that the scales originated from the species Manis javanica, commonly known as the Sunda pangolin, after conducting genetic analysis. This critically endangered species is native to South-east Asia, including Singapore.
Providing this update at the World Wildlife Day Regional Youth Symposium held at the BCA Academy in Braddell on March 28, Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan said investigations are ongoing.
He said the case is an example of the nation’s whole-of-government approach to detect and disrupt attempts to traffic wildlife.
“But enforcement alone is insufficient. Combating wildlife trade requires all of us to work across different sectors,” said Mr Tan.
