Thai customs make million-dollar ivory seizure

(AFP) Google News 16 Jul 10;

BANGKOK — Thai customs said Friday they had seized smuggled ivory worth more than one million dollars in a shipment sent from Kenya to Bangkok's main international airport.

Officials acted on a tip-off to find 117 elephant tusks and nine other pieces of ivory, weighing 765 kilos (1,683 pounds) and valued at 38.3 million baht (1.2 million dollars), at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday.

No arrests have been made in connection with the discovery of the contraband, which was labelled as furniture and plastic folders.

The shipment is illegal under international laws that ban the trafficking of endangered species and their products.

Wildlife experts say Thailand is a commonly-used transit point for the illegal trafficking of animal parts.

Since February Thai customs officials have intercepted three large hauls of ivory totalling 652 tusks, worth 228.3 million baht.