SINGAPORE: Close to two tones of illegal raw ivory tusks in transit in Singapore from Africa was intercepted by the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the Singapore Customs here the other day.
This is the largest ivory seizure since 2002, where a shipment of about six tonnes of raw ivory tusks and cut ivory pieces was seized. The shipment was estimated to be worth about $1.5 million.
The more recent shipment that was picked up on Jan 23 consisted of 1,099 pieces of raw ivory tusks packed in 65 gunny sacks. The estimated value is $2.5 million.
International trade in ivory has been banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), of which Singapore has been a signatory to since 1989.
