(25 Feb 2010) SHOTLIST
1. Wide top shot of elephant tusks on display
2. Mid of open ends of tusks, pan to wide of haul
3. Close-up of pointed ends of tusks
4. Wide of haul, journalists and customs officials in background
5. Close-up of tusks
6. Photographer taking pictures of haul
7. Tusks on display with card showing number of tusks seized (239), tilt up to wide of haul
8. Customs officials wearing masks
9. Boxes that were carrying the ivory shipment, bearing label showing it was going to Laos
10. Wide of Director-General of Customs Dr Somchai Sujjapongse and others holding tusks
11. SOUNDBITE: (Thai) Dr Somchai Sujjapongse, Director-General of Customs:
"I am pleased to announce this latest attempt by the Customs Department to eradicate wildlife smuggling. And our officers have done a great job. It is unacceptable to let this go on."
12. Various of tusks on display
STORYLINE
Two tonnes of elephant tusks from Africa were seized by customs officials in Thailand on Wednesday night, in the country''s largest ever ivory haul.
The tusks were discovered at Bangkok''s Suvarnabhumi Airport, where they were hidden in pallets labelled as mobile phone parts.
Thai Customs officials valued the haul at 120 (m) million baht (3.6 (m) million US dollars).
It is further sign that Thailand is emerging as a hub for the illicit trade.
Poaching of elephants in central and eastern Africa has intensified in recent years, with much of the illegal ivory exported to Asia.
Acting on a tip, officials seized two pallets found to contain 239 tusks of African elephants, said a spokesperson for the Customs Department.
The consignment, which originated in South Africa, was labelled as being destined for Laos - apparently to confuse customs officials, as Laos has an agreement with neighbouring Thailand not to check cargo in transit.
A Thai national, however, attempted to pick up the cargo and was detained, the spokesperson said.
Customs officials suspect the tusks would have been crafted into trinkets and jewelry in Thailand.
"It is unacceptable to let this go on," said Director-General of Customs, Dr Somchai Sujjapongse, who praised the efforts of his team.
Customs officials said it was the biggest seizure they had ever had.
Ivory shipped to Thailand typically goes to carvers who fashion it into Buddhist statues, bangles and jewelry for sale to tourists or sale in other countries.
Thailand is also a transit point for ivory forwarded to other markets like China.
The UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species banned all international ivory trade in 1989.
Traders in Thailand have thrived in part because the 1989 ban did not address domestic trade.
That loophole allows them to deceive authorities by claiming their African ivory came from domestic sources - a tactic that is effective because it can be difficult without DNA testing to tell the difference between African and Asian ivory.
Authorities say 10 tons of African ivory was seized in Southeast Asia last year, including three seizures in Thailand.
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