NParks seizes rhino horns worth S$1.13 million at Changi Airport

The National Parks Board (NParks) conducted the largest seizure of rhinoceros horns in Singapore on Nov. 8, 2025.

According to a Nov. 18 media release, NParks uncovered and seized 20 pieces of rhinoceros horns that weighed 35.7kg and amounted to S$1.13 million.

The rhinoceros horns were uncovered and seized by NParks along with around 150kg of other animal parts.

This marks the largest seizure of rhinoceros horns in Singapore to date.

It surpasses the previous record of 34.7kg of rhinoceros horns seized in October 2022.

Furniture fittings

This comes after SATS, an air cargo handler at Singapore Changi Airport, detected a suspicious shipment on Nov. 8, 2025.

SATS received four pieces of cargo booked on a flight bound for Vientiane, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

An inspection by SATS staff revealed that their contents were inconsistent with the declared contents of "Furniture Fittings".

Strong odour

During the routine screening and acceptance checks, SATS Cargo Acceptance staff member Vengadeswaran Letchumanan noticed irregularities with the shipment that raised suspicions.

When checking the suspicious cargo, he detected a strong, decomposed and pungent odour coming from the package.

He added that it was his first time encountering something like that on the ground in his three years at SATS.

Upon closer visual examination, he suspected that the contents were inconsistent with the declared contents on the airway bill, which listed the shipment as furniture fittings.

He then felt the cargo should undergo further screening and immediately alerted his duty manager, who then activated SATS Security Services to conduct a detailed inspection of the shipment.

Under the supervision of the duty manager, a SATS security officer and the cargo agent, one of the pieces of cargo was opened for inspection.

The cargo contained what appeared to be animal parts.

The remaining three pieces of cargo subsequently underwent x-ray screening and were found to contain similar contents.

These checks were in accordance with standing procedures for inspecting suspicious cargo.

Following the Airport Police Division of the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and NParks being alerted, the rhinoceros horns and other animal parts were seized.

Originated from South Africa

Following the seizure, NParks investigations found that the shipment of rhinoceros horns originated in South Africa.

Based on species identification conducted at NParks’ Centre for Wildlife Forensics, the 20 pieces of rhinoceros horns were identified as White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum).

Species identification of the other animal parts is ongoing.

Protected

The release noted that rhinoceroses are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and international trade in rhinoceros horns is prohibited.

The horns will subsequently be disposed of in accordance with CITES guidelines to prevent them from re-entering the market and disrupting the global supply chain of illegally traded rhinoceros horns.

Members of the public can contact NParks at [email protected] if they spot any occurrences of illegal wildlife trade.

Information shared will be kept strictly confidential.

Penalties

Under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act (ESA), the maximum penalties for the trade in CITES-scheduled Appendix I species transiting through Singapore without a valid CITES permit are:

• A fine of up to S$200,000 for each specimen of that scheduled species in transit in Singapore (not exceeding S$1,000,000 or the market value of the specimens) and/or;
• Up to eight years' jail

In Singapore, the penalties for such transit cases are the same as those for the import and export of CITES-scheduled species without a valid CITES permit.

Top photos via Mothership