Hong Kong Customs this afternoon (April 30) seized a total of 113 ivory tusks in an air transshipment cargo at Super Terminal 1, Hong Kong International Airport. The seized ivory tusks are 300 kilograms in weight, with value about $3 million.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers selected an air consignment declared to contain "spare parts" transshipping from Burundi, Africa to Singapore via Hong Kong for examination. Upon X-ray image analysis, the consignment was detected to contain ivory tusks instead of spare parts.
Investigation is still ongoing. Hong Kong Customs will work with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to deter the trafficking of endangered species.
Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of trading in endangered species for commercial purposes is liable to a maximum fine of $5 million and imprisonment for two years.
Ends/Tuesday, April 30 2013
