Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Swiss customs seize 262kg of ivory en route to China

BERLIN — Swiss authorities say customs officials at Zurich airport have seized 262kg of ivory that three Chinese men had dispatched from Tanzania.

Ivory confiscated by Zurich airport customs is seen at Zurich airport, Switzerland, on August 4, 2015. Photo: Reuters

Ivory confiscated by Zurich airport customs is seen at Zurich airport, Switzerland, on August 4, 2015. Photo: Reuters

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

BERLIN — Swiss authorities say customs officials at Zurich airport have seized 262kg of ivory that three Chinese men had dispatched from Tanzania.

Switzerland's customs authority said today (Aug 4) that the ivory — found during a security check on July 6 and packed in eight suitcases — had an estimated black market value of about 400,000 francs (S$569,164).

The elephant tusks had been sawed into pieces to fit into the luggage, which was being transported from Dar es Salaam to Beijing via Zurich. The suitcases also contained 1kg of lion fangs and claws.

Demand from China's rising middle class has been fuelling illegal trade in ivory. Swiss customs said the Chinese men could face large fines. AP

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.