Published on Oct 23, 2012 by NTDTV
The massive seizure on Saturday was worth about $26.7 million Hong Kong dollars, or $3.45 million US dollars.
The ivory tusks and ornaments had been smuggled from Africa, and were destined for the mainland Chinese black market. It's one of the largest ever such loads, yet officials and conservationists fear it only scratches the surface of the ongoing illegal trade.
In the haul were 1,209 ivory tusks, and various ivory ornaments, with around 600 African elephants having been killed to provide the material, according to the South China Morning Post.
It has been a year since the last major ivory seizure, and Hong Kong officials claim that it is rare for the illegal goods to move through their ports. Yet it's widely known that China is now the world's primary consumer market for ivory products, which are used for purposes ranging from art to traditional medicine.
China's growing presence in Africa has also been seen as a major factor contributing to the trend, as both Chinese and Africans see opportunities to turn a profit in this lucrative, but internationally banned, business venture.
The ivory tusks and ornaments had been smuggled from Africa, and were destined for the mainland Chinese black market. It's one of the largest ever such loads, yet officials and conservationists fear it only scratches the surface of the ongoing illegal trade.
In the haul were 1,209 ivory tusks, and various ivory ornaments, with around 600 African elephants having been killed to provide the material, according to the South China Morning Post.
It has been a year since the last major ivory seizure, and Hong Kong officials claim that it is rare for the illegal goods to move through their ports. Yet it's widely known that China is now the world's primary consumer market for ivory products, which are used for purposes ranging from art to traditional medicine.
China's growing presence in Africa has also been seen as a major factor contributing to the trend, as both Chinese and Africans see opportunities to turn a profit in this lucrative, but internationally banned, business venture.
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