News / National
Attempt to smuggle ivory through Harare Airport foiled
22 Oct 2013 at 04:27hrs | Views
POLICE on Monday arrested an Chinese national for the illegal possessing 17 raw pieces of ivory valued at more than $28000, the parks and wildlife officials have revealed.
"(We) confirm that an Asian national was today arrested at the Harare International Airport for illegal possession of ivory," said Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Caroline Washaya-Moyo
"He is 34 years old and is a truck driver in his country of origin. He was found with 17 raw pieces of ivory and several worked ivory which included bangles, chop sticks and beads weighing 113.9 kilogrammes valued at approximately $28,250."
The suspect was arrested as he waited to board an Ethiopian Airline destined for Malaysia.
Elephant tusks and other body parts are prized in Asia and the Middle East for ornaments, as talismans, and for use in traditional medicine.
The international trade in ivory, with rare exceptions, has been outlawed since 1989 after the population of African elephants dropped from millions in the mid-20th century to just 600,000 by the end of the 1980s.
Wildlife experts estimate that the illegal international ivory trade is worth up to $10 billion a year.
Concern is mounting over the poisoning of elephants in the country's biggest game park.
Wildlife authorities have said more than 100 elephants have died of cyanide poisoning, while the independent wildlife conservation group Zimbabwe Conservation Taskforce put the figure at 325.
Twelve people have been arrested in recent weeks in connection with the killings and five were sentenced in to at least 15 years in prison each.
"(We) confirm that an Asian national was today arrested at the Harare International Airport for illegal possession of ivory," said Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Caroline Washaya-Moyo
"He is 34 years old and is a truck driver in his country of origin. He was found with 17 raw pieces of ivory and several worked ivory which included bangles, chop sticks and beads weighing 113.9 kilogrammes valued at approximately $28,250."
The suspect was arrested as he waited to board an Ethiopian Airline destined for Malaysia.
Elephant tusks and other body parts are prized in Asia and the Middle East for ornaments, as talismans, and for use in traditional medicine.
The international trade in ivory, with rare exceptions, has been outlawed since 1989 after the population of African elephants dropped from millions in the mid-20th century to just 600,000 by the end of the 1980s.
Wildlife experts estimate that the illegal international ivory trade is worth up to $10 billion a year.
Concern is mounting over the poisoning of elephants in the country's biggest game park.
Wildlife authorities have said more than 100 elephants have died of cyanide poisoning, while the independent wildlife conservation group Zimbabwe Conservation Taskforce put the figure at 325.
Twelve people have been arrested in recent weeks in connection with the killings and five were sentenced in to at least 15 years in prison each.
Source - newsday
