Two Vietnamese nationals have each been sentenced to six months in prison for illegally smuggling 12 endangered songbirds into Singapore, according to various media reports.

In a joint statement on Thursday, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and Immigration Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said 38-year-old To Quoc Viet and his 48-year-old half-brother, Thai Anh Quoc were also sentenced to four months’ imprisonment for animal cruelty.

On December 9, ICA alerted AVA after discovering the rare birds in two luggage bags that arrived on a flight from Vietnam to Singapore.

The 12 Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus) – a protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) – were found in white plastic containers wrapped in clothing.

The two Vietnamese men were subsequently detained and the bags were seized for investigation.

One of the 12 smuggled Chinese Hwamei birds was found dead. (Photo courtesy: AVA)

AVA said the birds had been confined for about 12 hours without food and water, and one did not survive.

As part of the investigation, the agency also said that the remaining 11 birds were tested for avian influenza. One of the birds tested positive for Influenza A virus (H3N8) and was euthanised as a result.

Singapore is one of the few countries in the region free from bird flu and has strict import regulations.

“The bird was exposed to the virus before its arrival in Singapore,” AVA said in the statement.

“The ICA and AVA would like to remind travelers not to bring animals, birds and insects into Singapore without a proper permit.”

It is illegal to import any animals or live birds without a permit. If convicted, the offender may be fined SGD$10,000 and/or jailed for up to 12 months.

– TiVi Tuan-san