Hong Kong customs intercepts illegal ivory

Hong Kong customs intercepts illegal ivory

22nd October 2012

Customs officers in Hong Kong have intercepted one of the largest shipments of illegal ivory in history. The illegal shipment was hidden inside containers.

The seizure of 1,209 elephant tusks and ivory ornaments weighing 3,813kg was announced by Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department on Saturday. The illegal ivory was inside two containers shipped from Tanzania and Kenya.

One of the boxes was labeled as carrying plastic scrap, while the other seized container was marked as containing dried beans.

The content of the seizure represents the equivalent of more than 600 dead elephants.

The ivory trade is now so lucrative that organised crime is involved. Hong Kong officials estimated that the value of the illegal ivory was approximately HG$26.7 (US$3.5m).

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