Vietnam Seizes 1.19 Tons of Ivory from Congo, Hidden in Wood

JAKARTA – Vietnamese authorities have seized 1,193 kilograms of elephant ivory that is said to have been illegally shipped from Africa. The ivory was hidden in sawn wood in three container shipments.

Kyodo News quoted Sunday, August 16, saying that as many as 221 pieces of ivory were announced and shown to the media on Wednesday at Quy Nhơn Port, Gia Lai Province, central Vietnam.

An inspection last week found the ivory hidden in the wood. The three containers were known to have arrived on July 9.

The illegal cargo also contained 79.3 kilograms of animal bones. According to Vietnamese media reports, the bones came from a group of big cats, such as tigers.

The crushed animal bones are used in traditional Chinese medicine.

The Tuoi Tre newspaper website said the Gia Lai Provincial Police said the shipment was from the Republic of Congo.

After the contraband was found during the customs inspection process, a criminal investigation was opened for alleged violations of rules related to protected animals.

Vietnam is known as one of the centers of illegal wildlife trade, both alive and dead. Most of the smuggled goods are passed on to China, while there is also demand in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries.

Most trade in elephant ivory and other endangered species is prohibited under CITES, or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Almost all UN member states are parties to the agreement.

Kyodo News also noted that this finding was reported to be the largest ivory seizure ever in Quy Nhơn.

However, the number is still below several other seizures in Vietnam in the last decade. In Danang and Haiphong, shipments of ivory weighing more than seven tons were found.

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