Kenya arrests Thai woman in airport ivory bust

NAIROBI, December 26, 2010 (AFP) - Kenyan police arrested a Thai woman at Nairobi airport as she checked in for a flight to Bangkok with 20 kilogrammes of illegal ivory, the wildlife service said Sunday.

The woman was arrested Saturday night while in transit from Maputo in Mozambique with 105 pieces of ivory jewellery and raw ivory. She will be arraigned before a magistrate Monday, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said in a statement.

The latest arrest comes two weeks after Kenyan police apprehended two Bangkok-bound Singaporeans who were checking in 92 kilos of illegal raw ivory at Nairobi airport.

Kenya, which has successfully repopulated several herds of elephants in recent years, is a major source of smuggled ivory and has seen a rise in poaching lately.

The recent deployment of teams of sniffer dogs at Nairobi airport has facilitated arrests of smugglers of wildlife and wildlife products.

Thailand is a known transit point for the ivory, most of which is then sent to China, where it is used in medicines and ornaments.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-12-26

The Singaporeans were obviously ill advised if they were 'checking in' 92 kgs of ivory! The Thai lady also had ivory jewellery - so probably got told it was ok to export. Let these stories roll out and expand the facts before anyone condemns them. You don't 'check in' ivory !!!

The Singaporeans were obviously ill advised if they were 'checking in' 92 kgs of ivory! The Thai lady also had ivory jewellery - so probably got told it was ok to export. Let these stories roll out and expand the facts before anyone condemns them. You don't 'check in' ivory !!!

It's possible. Most people ship it as air cargo, but they're usually scammed by their clearing agents. I believe that's the reason people check it in.

Feel sorry for the arrested.

Yup, most were told it was ok to bring the items with the person to board.

On the other hand, perhaps the confiscated items would be put back on shelves again for the next victim.

Ah, that would be a very profitable enterprising in any country, like it or not.