"Customs officials from the South African Revenue Service have intercepted and stopped an attempt to smuggle 267 kilograms of ivory from OR Tambo International Airport, according to SA News.

The officials discovered numerous shrink-wrapped boxes containing ivory tusks during an inspection of the cargo area at the airport. The boxes had been declared as ‘handcrafts’.

“The ivory, which was destined for Vietnam from Zimbabwe, is estimated to have a street value of R4 million, which is one of the biggest interceptions by SARS of smuggled ivory. No Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species permits were issued for the consignment, a clear attempt to smuggle the goods,” said SARS."

Source

Vietnam and Zim, huh? Just about the last countries one would expect to be involved in ivory smuggling. Shocking!

Johan