HONG KONG: A traveller from Nigeria was arrested at Hong Kong International Airport today with 16kg of suspected cut ivory stashed inside the pockets of a tailor-made vest and underpants.
The 26-year-old man was intercepted as he arrived in the city from Abuja in Nigeria via Dubai in the United Arab Emirates this morning.
“During customs clearance, customs officers found about 15kg of suspected cut ivory concealed in a tailor-made vest and a pair of underpants inside his check-in luggage and 1kg of suspected cut ivory in his hand luggage,” the Customs and Excise Department said.
The haul was estimated to be worth HK$160,000 in Hong Kong. The department said the man may face prosecution.
The ivory found in the suspect’s hand luggage.
Officers handed the case to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for further investigation. The department oversees matters relating to ivory in the city.
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 penalty of HK$5 million and two years in jail.
It was the third ivory seizure by customs officers at the airport this month.
On September 6, they confiscated 51kg of suspected cut ivory pieces worth HK$510,000 hidden in two airmail parcels which had just arrived from Zimbabwe via Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
On September 2, another 24kg of suspected ivory worth about HK$240,000 was found hidden in two parcels arriving through the same destinations.
Last month, customs officers arrested a 42-year-old traveller with 15kg of suspected ivory products stashed inside the pockets of a tailor-made vest. He had also travelled from Abuja via Dubai.
