Thai customs officers seize largest ever haul of elephant ivory worth US$6 million

[Fascination]

Thai customs officers seize largest ever haul of elephant ivory worth US$6 million

PUBLISHED : Monday, 20 April, 2015, 11:22pm
UPDATED : Monday, 20 April, 2015, 11:22pm

Photo: Reuters

Thai customs officers seize largest ever haul of elephant ivory worth US$6 million

Thai customs officers display four tonnes of African elephant ivory worth US$6 million that was seized at a Bangkok port in a container labelled as beans, in the kingdom's largest ever haul of its kind.

The 739 pieces of tusk were found stashed in a container which arrived at the port on Saturday after being shipped from the Democratic Republic of Congo destined for Laos, according to a statement by Thai customs.

"The pieces weigh around 4,000kg and are worth around 200 million baht (HK$48 million)... it is the biggest ivory seizure in Thai history," the statement said, adding they had been declared on the cargo list as beans.

Once in neighbouring Laos, authorities believe the ivory would likely be sold on to buyers from China, Vietnam or back into Thailand, countries where ivory ornaments remain highly prized despite fears the trade is pushing wild elephants to extinction.

Under Thai law, registered ivory from domesticated Thai elephants can be sold.