Yahoo News 21 Jul 09;
DAR ES SALAAM (AFP) – Six Tanzanian businessmen were Tuesday charged with smuggling 11 tons of elephant ivory worth around 600,000 dollars to the Philippines and Vietnam over the last six months.
They were also charged with 11 counts of conspiracy, unlawful hunting, exporting concealed and undeclared items as well as making false documents.
According to the Dar es Salaam magistrate court before which they were charged, they committed the offence between October 2008 and March this year.
The men, who denied the charges and were remanded in custody until July 28 pending bail appplication, run several export and cargo clearing firms in Dar es Salaam.
The tusks were impounded by authorities in the Philippines and Vietman through cooperation with Interpol.
