A tip-off lead the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), Singapore Customs, and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority to the second largest seizure of illegal ivory since 2002, where the authorities managed to intercept a shipment of around 3,700 kg of illegal ivory.
The two 20-footer containers — declared as a shipment of tea leaves — had been making its way from Kenya and was transiting through Singapore for Vietnam. Closer inspection uncovered 1,783 pieces raw ivory tusks hidden among bags of tea dust, as well 4 pieces of rhinoceros horns and 22 pieces of canine teeth, believed to be from African big cats. The shipment has been seized by the AVA for further investigations.
The estimated selling price of the haul? $8 million. "The Singapore Government has zero tolerance on the use of Singapore as a conduit to smuggle endangered species and their parts and products," asserted Deputy Director of AVA's Quarantine & Inspection Group, Wildlife Section, Lye Fong Keng. "AVA will continue to cooperate and collaborate with partner enforcement agencies nationally and internationally to curb wildlife trafficking. The public can also help reduce demand by not buying such products”.
Photo: AVA newsroom
A tip-off lead the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), Singapore Customs, and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority to the second largest seizure of illegal ivory since 2002, where the authorities managed to intercept a shipment of around 3,700 kg of illegal ivory.
The two 20-footer containers — declared as a shipment of tea leaves — had been making its way from Kenya and was transiting through Singapore for Vietnam. Closer inspection uncovered 1,783 pieces raw ivory tusks hidden among bags of tea dust, as well 4 pieces of rhinoceros horns and 22 pieces of canine teeth, believed to be from African big cats. The shipment has been seized by the AVA for further investigations.
The estimated selling price of the haul? $8 million. "The Singapore Government has zero tolerance on the use of Singapore as a conduit to smuggle endangered species and their parts and products," asserted Deputy Director of AVA's Quarantine & Inspection Group, Wildlife Section, Lye Fong Keng. "AVA will continue to cooperate and collaborate with partner enforcement agencies nationally and internationally to curb wildlife trafficking. The public can also help reduce demand by not buying such products”.
Photo: AVA newsroom