Elephan tusks seized at the seaport (Source: AFP) Phnom Penh (VNA) – The Cambodian authorities saidon December 16 that they had seized more than 3.2 tonnes of elephant tusks at aseaport in the capital city of Phnom Penh, marking the country’s largest ivorybust.
The ivory was hidden among marbles in a container sent from Mozambique. The container arrived at theport last year and was abandoned as the unidentified owner of the shipment didnot come to pick up the cargo, a customs official said.
According to Sun Chhay, director of the customs and exciseoffice at the port, the discovery of 1,026 tusks at the Phnom Penh port followeda tip from the US embassy.
Cambodia has a miniscule elephant population but its emergence as a newtrafficking hub has resulted in several busts over the past five years.
Thelargest case occurred in 2014, when Cambodian customs seized about three tonnes of ivoryhidden in a container of beans at the south-western port ofSihanoukville.
Lastyear, Cambodia also seized nearly a tonne of ivory hidden in hollowed-out logsdiscovered inside an abandoned container owned by a company based inMozambique.-VNA
The ivory was hidden among marbles in a container sent from Mozambique. The container arrived at theport last year and was abandoned as the unidentified owner of the shipment didnot come to pick up the cargo, a customs official said.
According to Sun Chhay, director of the customs and exciseoffice at the port, the discovery of 1,026 tusks at the Phnom Penh port followeda tip from the US embassy.
Cambodia has a miniscule elephant population but its emergence as a newtrafficking hub has resulted in several busts over the past five years.
Thelargest case occurred in 2014, when Cambodian customs seized about three tonnes of ivoryhidden in a container of beans at the south-western port ofSihanoukville.
Lastyear, Cambodia also seized nearly a tonne of ivory hidden in hollowed-out logsdiscovered inside an abandoned container owned by a company based inMozambique.-VNA
VNA
