• Singapore seizes 20 rhinoceros horns worth approximately S$1.13 million.
• This represents the largest seizure of rhino horns in the country to date.
• The horns were discovered in a shipment labeled as furniture fittings.
• Authorities found an additional 150 kg of other animal parts in the same shipment.
• The case highlights Singapore's commitment to combat wildlife trafficking.

Singapore has announced its largest-ever seizure of rhinoceros horns, with 20 pieces weighing 35.7 kg and valued at approximately S$1.13 million (US$867,000), discovered in a shipment at Changi Airport, transshipped from South Africa to Laos. This record haul surpasses the previous seizure of 34.7 kg in October 2022 and was detected during routine cargo inspections by SATS, an air cargo handler, after a staff member noticed irregularities and a foul odor from the shipment, according to SCMP and Reuters.

Alongside the rhinoceros horns, authorities also discovered around 150 kg of other unspecified animal parts, including bones and teeth, during the inspection process. The National Parks Board of Singapore (NParks) stated that the horns originated from white rhinoceroses and that investigations into the other animal parts are ongoing. The discovery highlights a persistent demand for rhino horns, often driven by their perceived medicinal properties and status symbol allure, according to Channel News Asia and AA.

As a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Singapore enforces strict penalties against illegal wildlife trade, including fines of up to S$200,000 per specimen and potential imprisonment for up to eight years for offenders. This recent seizure emphasizes Singapore's zero-tolerance policy towards wildlife trafficking and its commitment to curtailing the illegal wildlife trade, according to SCMP, Reuters, and Channel News Asia.