HONG KONG: Suspected cut ivory pieces with an estimated market value of HK$386,000 were found hidden in an airmail parcel that arrived in Hong Kong from Malaysia on Monday, the Customs and Excise Department said today.
A 35-year-old man, who claimed to be a company proprietor, was arrested when he went to the air cargo terminal of Hong Kong International Airport to collect the goods yesterday.
It is the second seizure of smuggled ivory at the airport in the past two days.
Customs officers intercepted the parcel from Malaysia on Monday. The contents were listed on an import document as pet food.
During a check, officers found 36.8kg of suspected cut ivory hidden under the pet food, the department said.
The suspect was released on bail pending further investigations.
Yesterday, two travellers from Zimbabwe were arrested after 36kg of suspected ivory products were discovered in their luggage. The haul was estimated to be worth about HK$360,000 in Hong Kong.
The suspected ivory was found under a consignment of pet food.
The two men, aged 29 and 47, were intercepted as they arrived in the city from Harare via Dubai.
Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, anyone 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 after 16kg of suspected cut ivory was found stashed inside the pockets of a tailor-made vest and underpants in his luggage. The haul was worth about HK$160,000.
On September 25, officers seized 13kg of suspected ivory products valued at 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 that 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 places.
