LYON: A huge international police operation has lead to the seizure of 4.5 tons of elephant tusks and rhino horn, leading to 376 arrests, Interpol says.
Operation Worthy II mobilised police forces in 11 countries, including South Africa, from January until October. The other countries were Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, the international police organisation said in a statement.
The operation saw 25 trafficking groups disbanded, while thousands of illegal wildlife products were seized, including more than 2 000 pangolin scales and 173 live tortoises.
Several weapons were also confiscated during the operation, which led police to Thailand and Singapore, where several tons of ivory were discovered.
Tusks are prized for decoration as talismans and for use in traditional medicine across parts of Asia, with China a major market for such products.
