Thailand Seizes Half-Tonne Of Ivory From Kenya

[Lite Beer]

Thailand seizes half-tonne of ivory from Kenya

Bangkok, July 17, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand has seized nearly half a tonne of ivory worth an estimated $725,000 smuggled from Kenya in boxes labelled handicrafts, a senior customs officer at Bangkok's main airport said Tuesday.

Some 160 pieces of ivory, weighing 456 kilogrammes, were found in a random search in six wooden boxes on a jet from Kenya -- a hub for smuggled ivory -- according to Tawal Rodjit, director of customs at Suvarnabhumi airport.

"The boxes/chests were from Kenya... the items had been labelled 'Goods to Declare' as handicrafts," he said, adding he believed the ivory was destined to be converted into accessories.

The July 13 seizure of the boxes, which were addressed to a fake company in Thailand, is the third haul of ivory being smuggled in or out of the country through the airport since January, he added.

Police have launched a probe into the seizure, which breaks international laws on trafficking endangered species or their parts.

"The penalty is up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine four times the value of the items seized," Tawal added.

Experts say traffickers use Thailand to smuggle ivory, rough or carved, into nearby China -- where it is ground up in traditional medicine -- and Japan.

But some also ends up in the United States and Europe.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-07-17

[maidu]

Yes, it's highly likely it was destined for China. The Chinese are, by far, the greatest users of exotic and/or endangered large species. When big beautiful animals go extinct, we can thank the Chinese.

[LucidLucifer]

I'm sure, if they wanted to, the police could find out where this shipment was destined to go to in Thailand. I very much doubt we will hear that they have arrested anyone significant for it.

[zappalot]

"The July 13 seizure of the boxes, which were addressed to a fake company in Thailand, is the third haul of ivory being smuggled in or out of the country through the airport since January, he added."

How do they know that? I dont want to know how many deliveries went undetected...

Yes, it's highly likely it was destined for China. The Chinese are, by far, the greatest users of exotic and/or endangered large species. When big beautiful animals go extinct, we can thank the Chinese.

dont forget the japanese, they dont care as well...

Edited July 17, 2012 by zappalot

[Skywalker69]

A sickening trade, how can people buy ivory?

[Tchooptip]

A sickening trade, how can people buy ivory?

For they do not realize I suppose, but how can people kill elephants

[peterdk]

Argh come on...

With all the effort going in, trying to protect both Elephants and Rhinos, maybe people ( Chinese and Japanese mainly ) should think one extra time before having their next dose of ivory medicine or whatever they use it for.

Seriously..

[TomTao]

This is yet another incident where a sting operation could have been organised, replace the real shipment with a bogus shipment, when the receiving party arrives, let them pick it up, follow them back to where they are sitting in anticipation of a big payoff, wait an hour or so to see who else turns up and spring the trap, get the recievers and/or the handlers at one time. How hard can it be?

Edited July 17, 2012 by TomTao

[webfact]

Smuggled ivory worth Bt22 mln seized at Thai airport

BANGKOK, July 17- A shipment of 158 pieces of contraband ivory with a street value of Bt22.8 million (some US$760,000) was seized at Thailand’s main international airport, according to a senior customs officer.

A quantity of elephant tusks, hidden in six suspicious wooden crates, was confiscated at a warehouse inside on Suvarnabhumi Airport July 13 after the authorities had been tipped off about ivory smuggling, Customs Department deputy director general Thanat Suwatthanamethakul told a press briefing on Tuesday.

Weighing about 456 kilogrammes, the ivory was originally air-freighted from Kenya. The shipment was declared as handicrafts and registered under the name of a cargo company.

As no customs documents were attached for the goods, all the smuggled elephant tusks were impounded for further investigation.

The case is considered a false declaration on the purpose of importing prohibited goods into the kingdom without permission.

The action violates the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act and related laws. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-07-17

[Spalpeen]

It's not just the Chinese. Let's not forget King Juan Carlos of Spain, who finds time to bag a few elephants while his country goes down the plughole.

[Unkomoncents]

Glad to hear another story about exactly how China is single-handedly wiping out the world's endangered species. Again, Thailand provides just the sort of lawlessness necessary to be transit point for EVERY sort of illegal paraphernalia. Glad to hear they stopped the shipment. Now the question is: what will the involved law enforcement officers buy with the proceeds from selling it?

[Satcommlee]

It's an inside job..

If the shipment gets as far as the backdoor, you can be guaranteed someone will know where the REAL delivery address is.

Customs have this fake company on record 3 times (thats why they know it;s been done before)

Probably a 10K a month customs inspector that's driving around in a Mercedes

[ratcatcher]

Thailand is obviously a major player in this tragic trade. For every two tusks in those pictures, a magnificent creature was cruelly slaughtered, their tusks cut off and in most cases their carcass left to rot.

Shooting poachers may be thought of as effective, but for every dead poacher, another live one shows up.

The Chinese are apparently the largest consumers of ivory and as long as the Chinese demand continues, so will the slaughter.

It's all so damned saddening.

[Nisa]

It's an inside job..

If the shipment gets as far as the backdoor, you can be guaranteed someone will know where the REAL delivery address is.

Customs have this fake company on record 3 times (thats why they know it;s been done before)

Probably a 10K a month customs inspector that's driving around in a Mercedes

Actually it is the 3rd confiscation of ivory at the Airport since January. The article isn't clear.

[Nisa]

It is just not China that is into Ivory. Just a few days ago two store owners in Manhattan plead guilty to having in their possession a ton of ivory that was being openly sold in their jewelry store. They received a slap on the wrist.

Under their plea agreements, GUPTA and RAJA JEWELS must forfeit elephant ivory with a retail value of nearly $2 million. They are also required to pay $45,000, which will be donated to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) for use in the organization’s projects involving elephant population protection, anti-poaching efforts, and combating the illegal ivory trade. Under their respective plea agreemen ts, LU and NEW YORK JEWELRY MART must forfeit ivory valued at approxi mately $120,000, and pay $10,000 to be donated to the WCS.

http://www.jewelryne.ws/ny-jewelers-involved-in-illegal-ivory-trade-plead-guilty/

[Unkomoncents]

It is just not China that is into Ivory. Just a few days ago two store owners in Manhattan plead guilty to having in their possession a ton of ivory that was being openly sold in their jewelry store. They received a slap on the wrist.

Under their plea agreements, GUPTA and RAJA JEWELS must forfeit elephant ivory with a retail value of nearly $2 million. They are also required to pay $45,000, which will be donated to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) for use in the organization’s projects involving elephant population protection, anti-poaching efforts, and combating the illegal ivory trade. Under their respective plea agreemen ts, LU and NEW YORK JEWELRY MART must forfeit ivory valued at approxi mately $120,000, and pay $10,000 to be donated to the WCS.

http://www.jewelryne...e-plead-guilty/

Two store owners? And, since they were in America, you're confirming that those store owners weren't Chinese? I would love to see a Caucasian American who needs rhino horns for his/her business.

Edited July 17, 2012 by Unkomoncents

[Nisa]

It is just not China that is into Ivory. Just a few days ago two store owners in Manhattan plead guilty to having in their possession a ton of ivory that was being openly sold in their jewelry store. They received a slap on the wrist.

Under their plea agreements, GUPTA and RAJA JEWELS must forfeit elephant ivory with a retail value of nearly $2 million. They are also required to pay $45,000, which will be donated to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) for use in the organization’s projects involving elephant population protection, anti-poaching efforts, and combating the illegal ivory trade. Under their respective plea agreemen ts, LU and NEW YORK JEWELRY MART must forfeit ivory valued at approxi mately $120,000, and pay $10,000 to be donated to the WCS.

http://www.jewelryne...e-plead-guilty/

Two store owners? And, since they were in America, you're confirming that those store owners weren't Chinese? I would love to see a Caucasian American who needs rhino horns for his/her business.

Both American Corporations in the Retail Jewelry trade located in New York. As, I said, it is not just China (country, not a people). They were also from Elephants (just like the OP) and not Rhino. Both store owners are Americans though it is irrelevant as they were selling the items to the public in New York, not consuming it themselves. Not to mention, America (especially NY) is made up of people from all over the world. As I stated, it is not just China.

Here are some of their products ...

Edited July 17, 2012 by Nisa

[Thai at Heart]

The way the headline is written, its as though they won something

[webfact]

Tusks worth Bt22.8m seized

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Customs at Suvarnabhumi Airport seized 158 African elephant tusks worth Bt22.8 million, a senior official said yesterday.

Customs deputy chief Thanat Suwattanamethakul said the department's chief Somchai Pulsawat ordered staff to take strict action against people trying to smuggle items prohibited by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) and the 1992 Wildlife Act.

The ivory was found in three boxes, brought in by a flight from Kenya on Friday, addressed to Johnson Controls AIP Express, with contents inside described as handicrafts. The items were handed over to the National Parks Department.

-- The Nation 2012-07-18

[Naam]

A sickening trade, how can people buy ivory?

For they do not realize I suppose, but how can people kill elephants

elephants are "culled" legally by the hundreds every year in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya. stupid international regulations however mandates that their ivory is either destroyed or stored without hitting the (mainly) asian markets. if that "legal" ivory was sold, prices would drop and provide less incentive for poachers to kill elephants indiscriminately.

[travelmann]

A sickening trade, how can people buy ivory?

For they do not realize I suppose, but how can people kill elephants

elephants are "culled" legally by the hundreds every year in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya. stupid international regulations however mandates that their ivory is either destroyed or stored without hitting the (mainly) asian markets. if that "legal" ivory was sold, prices would drop and provide less incentive for poachers to kill elephants indiscriminately.

Well said, I just read that South African populations are now becoming a problem although it suggested Elephants were congregating there as an area of safety,

[Semper]

The way the headline is written, its as though they won something

Yes, they sure look happy.

[barefoot1988]

"The July 13 seizure of the boxes, which were addressed to a fake company in Thailand, is the third haul of ivory being smuggled in or out of the country through the airport since January, he added."

How do they know that? I dont want to know how many deliveries went undetected...

Yes, it's highly likely it was destined for China. The Chinese are, by far, the greatest users of exotic and/or endangered large species. When big beautiful animals go extinct, we can thank the Chinese.

dont forget the japanese, they dont care as well...

norway too, they don't give any rat arse too

and the list goes on

[ravip]

And another twist to the story...

Proposed sales mechanism would treat ivory like diamonds

[1bbcd5]

a great site,many useful information!

[Dap]

A sickening trade, how can people buy ivory?

Status symbol is just another word for BIG "Face".

[maidu]

"The July 13 seizure of the boxes, which were addressed to a fake company in Thailand, is the third haul of ivory being smuggled in or out of the country through the airport since January, he added."

How do they know that? I dont want to know how many deliveries went undetected...

Yes, it's highly likely it was destined for China. The Chinese are, by far, the greatest users of exotic and/or endangered large species. When big beautiful animals go extinct, we can thank the Chinese.

dont forget the japanese, they dont care as well...

.....and the Taiwanese who, last time I checked, also believe endangered animal parts like pulverized tiger penis, can get an old man's dick hard. Maybe a bit of calcium helps, but does it work any better than dog bone?

Argh come on...

With all the effort going in, trying to protect both Elephants and Rhinos, maybe people ( Chinese and Japanese mainly ) should think one extra time before having their next dose of ivory medicine or whatever they use it for. Seriously..

It's mainly Chinese men - who think (falsely) that it makes their dicks harder. This is the way they think: elephants and rhinos and tigers are big fierce beasts. Therefore, if I ingest a tonic made from their most prominent bones (tusks, horns, penises), then that will make my willy big and strong.

Incidentally, rhino horn is made from the same stuff your fingernails are made of. Looked at under a microscope, you'd see no difference. Perhaps flaccid Chinese men should hang around pedicure shops and take the floor sweepings home to mix with hot water for tea.

Edited July 19, 2012 by maidu

[maidu]

It's a good thing big cats don't have horns, then they would have all been rendered extinct already, by Asian men who indelibly believe the hocus pocus of Asian medicine. Sabertooth tigers? Forget it. Even if there was one in a Chinese zoo, old men would break in the cage and saw off its teeth.

[ANTIRACIST]

Thais people should stop blaming other nations for our illegal trades,this Ivories are seized in Thailand not China or Japan,this means Thais guys are involved. If Ivory is so important to China and Japan why are they not importing it directly to their country? When shall we learn to accept responsibility of our actions as a Nation??

[sprq]

It's not just the Chinese. Let's not forget King Juan Carlos of Spain, who finds time to bag a few elephants while his country goes down the plughole.

In general, this kind of hunting targets old male animals, is strictly controlled, and a good part of the fees paid by the hunters goes to government wildlife conservation programmes. Whilst KJC is a dick, fingering him and his ilk diverts attention away from the real problem, poaching, and the major culprit, the Chinese. Repeat, the Chinese.