On 19 May 2015, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and Singapore Customs announced the biggest seizure of elephant ivory since 2002 amounting to 3.7 tonnes. The shipment was transiting through Singapore to Vietnam. Like in April 2015, when approximately 3.1 tonnes of elephant ivory were seized by Thai Customs, the shipment originated from Kenya and was declared as tea leaves. The haul was discovered in two 20-foot maritime containers among bags of tea dust and included 1,783 pieces of raw ivory tusks, 4 pieces of rhinoceros horns and 22 pieces of canine teeth believed to be from African big cats. The two agencies were supported by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority during the operation.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which Singapore is a signatory to, bans international trade in elephant ivory, rhinoceros horns and certain species of big cats’ teeth.
Copyright for the photos: Singapore AVA