AVA sending illegal ivory worth S$2.5 million back to Africa

SINGAPORE — A illegal consignment of 1.8 tonnes of raw ivory tusks, worth about S$2.5 million, was seized by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) earlier this year, and will be returned to Africa for further investigation and enforcement actions.

The ivory was inspected and quantity verified by AVA and the African enforcement authorities on today (July 23) in preparation for the return to Africa.

The shipment is the second largest ivory seizure since 2002, when AVA seized six tonnes of raw ivory tusks and cut ivory pieces, and also the second consignment to be repatriated to Africa.

The AVA and Singapore Customs seized the consignment, which had been falsely declared as waste paper, on Jan 23 when it was en route to another country from Kenya.

The ivory tasks were packed in 65 gunny sacks.

“AVA has concluded our investigations and determined that no local importer was involved in the case. We have reminded all shipping and logistics companies, declaring agents and freight forwarders to exercise prudence and adopt security measures to ensure they are not used as conduits for wildlife trafficking,” said the AVA in a statement.

The AVA is now working with the Kenyan Wildlife Service, Kenyan Police and the Lusaka Agreement Taskforce (LATF) to repatriate the consignment to Africa for further investigation and enforcement actions.

Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), of which Singapore is a signatory to, all African and Asian elephants are endangered species. International trade in ivory has been banned under the Convention since 1989.

In Singapore, the maximum penalty for illegal trade (import, export and re-export) of ivory is a fine of S$50,000 per scheduled specimen, up to S$500,000, and/or imprisonment of up to two years.

The same penalties apply to any transhipment of ivory through Singapore without proper CITES permits from the exporting/importing country.

In the June 2002 case, a local shipper was prosecuted and fined S$5,000, which was the maximum fine under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act then, for preparing the documents which facilitated the shipment. The illegal ivory, labelled as “marble sculptures”, was estimated to be worth about S$1.5 million.

If any person has information on illegal trade in ivory, contact AVA at 6325 7625. All information will be kept strictly confidential.