Thai customs seize Sh100m ivory sent from Kenya

Thai customs officials inspect confiscated tusks during a press conference at the Customs Department in Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok July 16, 2010. They seized 117 tusks smuggled from Kenya but declared as plastic folders and furniture, the official statement said. Photo/ AFP

BANGKOK

Thai customs said Friday they had seized smuggled ivory worth Sh100 million in a shipment sent from Kenya to Bangkok's main international airport.

Officials acted on a tip-off to find 117 elephant tusks and nine other pieces of ivory, weighing 765 kilos (1,683 pounds) at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday.

No arrests have been made in connection with the discovery of the contraband, which was labelled as furniture and plastic folders.

The shipment is illegal under international laws that ban the trafficking of endangered species and their products.

Wildlife experts say Thailand is a commonly-used transit point for the illegal trafficking of animal parts.

Since February Thai customs officials have intercepted three large hauls of ivory totalling 652 tusks, worth 228.3 million baht.