Vietnam seizes over a ton of ivory smuggled from Africa

Vietnamese authorities have announced the seizure of more than a ton of elephant ivory that was illegally shipped from Africa, according to state media reports on Thursday.

The haul — 221 pieces of ivory weighing 1,193 kilograms (2,630 pounds) — was presented to the media on Wednesday at Quy Nhơn port in the central province of Gia Lai.

Inspections last week found the ivory concealed inside sawn timber in a shipment of three containers that arrived on July 9. The same cargo also contained 79.3 kilograms (175 pounds) of animal bones, which reports said came from big cats such as tigers. Crushed animal bones are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Gia Lai Provincial Police said the shipment originated from the Republic of the Congo. A criminal investigation has been launched for violations of regulations on protected animals.

Vietnam is a major transit hub for the illicit wildlife trade, with much of the contraband destined for China, though domestic demand also exists. While this is the largest ivory seizure recorded at Quy Nhơn, it is smaller than several hauls of over seven tons each in the ports of Danang and Haiphong over the past decade.

Most international trade in elephant ivory and other endangered species is banned under CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, to which nearly all UN member states are signatories.