Ho Chi Minh City destroys 35‑tonne shipment of pigs contaminated with banned drugs and African swine fever

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City conducted a covert operation to track three truckloads of pigs suspected of carrying illegal substances. The investigation, led by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary (Chi cục Chăn nuôi và Thú y TPHCM) and supported by police, identified 280 pigs weighing more than 35 tonnes. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of beta‑agonist growth promoters, including salbutamol and clenbuterol, in all three loads, and one load was also positive for the African swine fever virus.

All affected pigs were destroyed to prevent entry into the city’s slaughterhouses and protect public health. Officials are now tracing the source of the shipments, strengthening random inspections of livestock transport, and pursuing legal action against those responsible for the violations.