HK seizes US$3.4m of ivory tusks and products
Source: Agencies |
00:00 UTC+8 October 21, 2012
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HONG Kong customs officers have confiscated nearly 4 tons of ivory worth US$3.4 million in their biggest ever seizure of endangered species products, authorities said yesterday.
Acting on a tip from customs officials in neighboring Guangdong Province on Chinese mainland, Hong Kong officials found the ivory tusks and ornaments in two containers shipped from Tanzania and Kenya.
In the first seizure, on Tuesday, officers found nearly 1,000 pieces of ivory tusks weighing more than 1,900 kilograms as well as 1.4 kilograms of ivory ornaments in a container from Tanzania.
The ivory was hidden in bags of plastic scrap.
A day later, officers found 237 pieces of tusks weighing about 1,900 kilograms in a shipment from Kenya.
Authorities in China have arrested seven people, including one from Hong Kong.
The ivory seizure tops one in 2011 worth US$2.2 million.
"This is the biggest haul of ivory in Hong Kong customs enforcement history in a single operation," said Lam Tak-fai, head of Hong Kong's Ports and Maritime Command.
Wildlife activists blame China's growing presence in Africa for a surge in poaching elephants for their tusks, most of which are believed to be smuggled to China and Thailand to make ornaments.
Acting on a tip from customs officials in neighboring Guangdong Province on Chinese mainland, Hong Kong officials found the ivory tusks and ornaments in two containers shipped from Tanzania and Kenya.
In the first seizure, on Tuesday, officers found nearly 1,000 pieces of ivory tusks weighing more than 1,900 kilograms as well as 1.4 kilograms of ivory ornaments in a container from Tanzania.
The ivory was hidden in bags of plastic scrap.
A day later, officers found 237 pieces of tusks weighing about 1,900 kilograms in a shipment from Kenya.
Authorities in China have arrested seven people, including one from Hong Kong.
The ivory seizure tops one in 2011 worth US$2.2 million.
"This is the biggest haul of ivory in Hong Kong customs enforcement history in a single operation," said Lam Tak-fai, head of Hong Kong's Ports and Maritime Command.
Wildlife activists blame China's growing presence in Africa for a surge in poaching elephants for their tusks, most of which are believed to be smuggled to China and Thailand to make ornaments.
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