A Tonne Of African Ivory Seized In Thailand

[sriracha john]

Ivory Seized in Thailand

Kampala — A TONNE (1,000 kilograms) of Ugandan ivory has been impounded in Bangkok, Thailand, the biggest seizure of illegal animal products from the country in recent times.

The police questioned two Ugandan Entebbe-based clearing officials over the contraband valued at Sh609 million

*10,656,000 Thai Baht *.

The suspected exporter, Lois Smith, believed to be a Congolese, is on the run, reports Gerald Tenywa.

Samuel Mukiibi of Palm Agencies, a clearing and forwarding company and Ronald Sabwe of Entebbe Handling Services (ENHAS) allegedly cleared the cargo on January 13.

Catherine Kusemererwa, the head of the Entebbe Airport Police, said the cargo was handled by ENHAS. But the company's chief, Georges Tytens, refused to comment.

The last time such a huge consignment of ivory was seized was in 2002 in China. It was from the DR Congo transited through Uganda and Kenya. In June 2001, 213kg of ivory was impounded at Entebbe. Nobody was arrested and the destination of the contraband was not known.

Asked about the Thai contraband, the Civil Aviation Authority denied responsibility for clearing the shipment. Spokesperson Ignie Igundura said it was the duty of the Uganda Revenue Authority.

The tax body's spokesperson Paul Kyeyune expressed ignorance about the issue. "Do you have any information?" he asked.

Kusemererwa said the case had been under investigation for two months and that the key suspects were still at large.

Moses Mapesa, the head of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, condemned the trade in ivory. "We want the Police to address the menace and the culprits apprehended," he said.

He said over 10 elephants could have been killed to get the tonne of ivory, which he suspected came from the DR Congo.

He said it was impossible to kill such numbers of elephants in Uganda's protected areas without being detected.

Elephants are an endangered species that will become extinct if nothing is done to control trade in trophies from their bodies.

The trade was banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species after poachers reduced elephant population in Africa from 1.3 million in 1980 to just 600,000 in 1989.

However, the ban was undermined when the convention allowed South Africa and Zimbabwe to export ivory, citing an elephant population explosion in the region. Elephants tusks are sold to the wealthy as ornaments.

A kilogramme goes for Sh609,000 in China and the Far East, the biggest destinations.

Most illegal ivory in Uganda is said to come from Congo and the Sudan, although the trade is spreading into Uganda.

Regional wildlife agencies and the International Police last November launched an operation in Central, West and East African countries.

They seized 30kg of ivory in Ishasha, Kampala and Anaka. The Ishasha ivory is believed to have come from the Congolese Vicu-a National Park.

- All Africa News / 2009-03-24

[londonthai]

not sure why they tried to smuggle it to thailand, which is not a market for ivory. More likely to "legalised", carved here and send further to china.