(22 Sep 2017) Thai authorities announced on Friday they have seized an elephant tusk and 28 pieces of ivory originating from Africa estimated to be worth over 4 million baht (around 120 thousand US dollars).
The cut-up pieces were shipped in a cardboard box to Bangkok from Congo on August 7 and declared as furniture.
Customs officials in Thailand inspected the box this week and discovered the elephant tusk and 28 pieces of ivory wrapped in foam and aluminium foil.
The tusks were sent to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plan Conservation while police are still searching for involved suspects.
Poachers have killed tens of thousands of African elephants for their tusks to meet demand for ivory in Asia, putting the species at great risk.
Thailand became a major transit hub and destination for smuggled tusks, which are often carved into tourist trinkets and ornaments.
Customs officials said that since October last year it has been able to seize over 300 million baht (9 million US dollars) worth of illegal wildlife items in 43 cases.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
