HONG KONG: 15 Vietnamese nationals were detained by airport customs in Hong Kong after a routine inspection uncovered that the passengers were carrying 790 kg of ivory in their 32 suitcases. The massive amount said to be worth 7.9 million Hong Kong Dollars (US$ 1 million).
The suitcases, when opened, expelled a strong smell and were apparently still covered in large amounts of dried blood. They contained both raw and semi-finished products such as bangles and prayer beads.
The men and women, aged 20 to 50 had flown from Angola, which is one of the largest-worked ivory markets in Africa. None of the members spoke English, Cantonese or Putonghua and had flown from Angola to Hong Kong via Ethiopia in an attempt to avoid detection.
In May, Hong Kong began its incineration of around 28 tonnes of elephant tusks and ivory-made jewelry in what’s been called the largest display of such a dissolve against the illegal wildlife trade in the city yet.
A massive public destruction of ivory was also held in January in mainland China, where illegal ivory trade continues to be a huge issue.
