Two Zimbabweans Caught With 36kg Of Ivory At Hong Kong Airport

Hong KONG — Two travellers from Zimbabwe were yesterday arrested at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday after 36kg of suspected ivory products were found in their luggage.

The two men, aged 29 and 47, were intercepted as they arrived in the city from Harare via Dubai.

“During customs clearance, customs officers found about 19kg of suspected ivory products concealed in a tailor-made vest inside the hand luggage of the 47-year-old man,” the customs and excise department said.

“About 17kg of suspect ivory products were found in the hand luggage of the 29-year-old man.”

The haul was estimated to be worth about HK$360 000 in Hong Kong, according to the department.

Customs officers handed the case to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation department for further investigation. The department oversees matters relating to ivory in Hong Kong.

Under the protection of endangered species of animals and plants ordinance, any person found guilty of importing an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of HK$5 million and two years in jail.

In September, customs officers detected four cases of ivory smuggling at the airport.

On September 29, a man, 26, from Nigeria was arrested and 16kg of suspected cut ivory stashed inside the pockets of a tailor-made vest and underpants were found in his luggage when he arrived in the city. The haul was worth about HK$160,000.

On September 25, officers seized 13kg of suspected ivory products worth about
HK$130 000 and arrested a 27-year-old man from Zimbabwe at the airport.

On September 6, officers confiscated 51kg of suspected cut ivory pieces worth HK$510 000 hidden in two airmail parcels which had arrived from Zimbabwe via Amsterdam.

On September 2, another 24kg of suspected ivory worth about HK$240 000 was found hidden in a parcel arriving through the same destinations.source-newzimbabwe