Bangkok--16 May--LEEO-WEN
Thai Customs has seized 315kg of elephant tusks being smuggled in 87 plastic barrels from Mozambique to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport via Kenya. The ivory, worth 28 million Baht (USD800, 000) and representing entire herds of innocent elephants, was concealed with rocks and shipped over on a Kenya Airways commercial flight. The recipient of the cargo, a Kenyan national fled Bangkok for Kenya soon after the discovery was made by Customs. He is still at large, and the Royal Thai Police will cooperate with Kenyan authorities to secure his capture.
This is the fifth ivory seizure by Thai Customs in the 2015-2016 fiscal year, with each case featuring different characteristics. Last April saw two huge hauls intercepted at Laem Chabang Port, more smuggled ivory was seized at Suvarnabhumi in July, then there was a sizeable bust in December at Koh Samui International Airport as well as today's shipment. "We can see that the traffickers are using different entry points, container sizes and smuggling techniques. So we must continue to be diligent and inspect all suspicious cargo coming in," said the Director General of Royal Thai Customs, Kulit Sombatsiri.
If anybody has any information relating to the network of serial killers responsible for the continuous poaching and trafficking of elephants, please notify LEEO-WEN at
[email protected] "This tragic, endless and illegal loss of our magnificent species has to stop. That's why the regional wildlife enforcement network is established and to any person inside the trade, ports, or government agencies to help us find these serial killers. You not only save life, but you can also end these transnational crimes, said the Director of LEEO-WEN Mr.Vatanarak Suranartyuth.