RR Phantom
Location : Wasted Space Job/hobbies : Cayman Islands Actuary
| Subject: Great: Thai pig arrested with 20 elephant tusks Sun Feb 03, 2013 6:42 pm | |
| A Thai policeman has been arrested after he was caught trying to smuggle 20 elephant tusks, officials say.
The haul was discovered when the suspect - in plain clothes but driving a police van - was stopped at a checkpoint in the southern province of Chumphon on Saturday, Police Colonel Chalard Polnakarn told AFP.
"We found 10 pairs of elephant tusks in the van and charged him with illegal possession of elephant tusks, which he confessed to during the investigation," Chalard said.
The origin of the tusks was unclear. Advertisement
International trade in elephant ivory, with rare exceptions, has been outlawed since 1989.
But a rise in the illegal trade in ivory has been fuelled by demand in Asia and the Middle East, where elephant tusks are used in traditional medicines and to make ornaments.
Conservationists say ivory from Africa is often smuggled into Thailand and passed off as coming from Thai elephants, as a legal loophole allows the legal trade in ivory from domesticated elephants.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/thai-cop-arrested-with-20-elephant-tusks-20130204-2dt06.html#ixzz2JsmmFymI
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