Vietnam seizes over 1ton of ivory smuggled in from Africa


FE Team | Published: September 07, 2017 13:21:50 | Updated: September 27, 2017 23:49:48


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Vietnam authorities have seized more than a ton of smuggled ivory at Cat Lai port where some 6 tons were seized last year.

 

Customs official Le Dinh Loi in Ho Chi Minh City said the ivory seized Wednesday in the port had been packed with sawdust and layers of plasters and asphalt to hide it, reports AP.

 

He said Thursday the container held 1,356 kilograms (2,983 pounds) of ivory smuggled from Africa and was transiting through Vietnam to its destination in neighbouring Cambodia.

 

Vietnam bans hunting of its own dwindling elephant population but is one of the world's major transit points and consumers of ivory and rhino horn. Ivory is used as jewelry and home decoration.

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