The customs inspectors discovered the tusks inside a 40-feet Malaysian consignment declared as “frozen fish”.
Following an initial investigation, the authorities have arrested the owner and two staff members of a trading company in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Customs seized “about” 7.2 tonnes of ivory tusks. Image: Hong Kong customs authorities via Mongabay.com
“Hong Kong Customs are to be warmly congratulated on this important seizure, but it is vital for a full and thorough investigation to take place in the aftermath to find out who was orchestrating this massive movement of contraband,” Yannick Kuehl, TRAFFIC’s Regional Director for East Asia, said in a statement.
Under CITES guidelines, large-scale ivory seizures, of at least 500 kilograms (0.5 metric tonnes) point towards the participation of organised crime.
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Hong Kong Customs are to be warmly congratulated on this important seizure, but it is vital for a full and thorough investigation to take place in the aftermath to find out who was orchestrating this massive movement of contraband.
Yannick Kuehl, regional director for East Asia, TRAFFIC
And this large seizure moving from Malaysia to Hong Kong highlights the role of the two countries as smuggling hubs of ivory, TRAFFIC added.
“No doubt Hong Kong’s geographic location coupled with the currently relatively lenient penalties in place for anyone convicted of wildlife crime are reasons behind the shipment coming through the port—the case for increasing penalties has never been stronger,” Kuehl said.
In December last year, Hong Kong government announced a three-step plan to phase out domestic ivory trade by the end of 2021.
This story was published with permission from Mongabay.com
