Hong Kong customs seize $4.2m of ivory
Purchase this article for republication
Buy SPH photos-
Ivories are displayed during a press conference by Hong Kong customs officers in Hong Kong Saturday, Oct 20, 2012, after they confiscated nearly 4 tons of ivories worth US$3.4 million in their biggest ever seizure of endangered species products, authorities said on Saturday. -- PHOTO: AP
-
Ivory tusks seized during an anti-smuggling operation are displayed during a Hong Kong Customs press conference on Oct 20, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Seized elephant tusks are seen on display during a Hong Kong Customs press conference on Oct 20, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Local media film ivory tusks seized during an anti-smuggling operation, at a Hong Kong Customs press conference on Oct 20, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Ivory tusks seized during an anti-smuggling operation are displayed during a Hong Kong Customs press conference on Oct 20, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Ivory tusks seized during an anti-smuggling operation are displayed during a Hong Kong Customs press conference on Oct 20, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Ivories are displayed during a press conference by Hong Kong customs officers in Hong Kong Saturday, Oct 20, 2012, after they confiscated nearly 4 tons of ivories worth US$3.4 million in their biggest ever seizure of endangered species products, authorities said on Saturday. -- PHOTO: AP
Ivory tusks seized during an anti-smuggling operation are displayed during a Hong Kong Customs press conference on Oct 20, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Seized elephant tusks are seen on display during a Hong Kong Customs press conference on Oct 20, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Local media film ivory tusks seized during an anti-smuggling operation, at a Hong Kong Customs press conference on Oct 20, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Ivory tusks seized during an anti-smuggling operation are displayed during a Hong Kong Customs press conference on Oct 20, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Ivory tusks seized during an anti-smuggling operation are displayed during a Hong Kong Customs press conference on Oct 20, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
HONG KONG - One of the world's biggest ever seizures of illicit ivory - a haul of tusks which cost the lives of 600 African elephants - has been made in Hong Kong.
The raid was the outcome of a two-month-long, cross-border investigation by Hong Kong and Guangdong customs agents, South China Morning Post reported.
The unprecedented haul weighed 3.8 tonnes - 1.6 tonnes more than was seized worldwide in the whole of 2007.
It could have fetched upwards of HK$26.7 million (S$4.2 million) on Asia's booming black market.
