Thai customs authorities seize four ton-smuggled ivory tusks

BANGKOK, April 21 (TNA) - Thailand's customs authorities have seized four tons of ivory tusks smuggled from neighboring countries, totally worth about 200 million baht, while nationwide three-month ivory registrations have been active. Somchai Sujjapongse, Director-General of the Ministry of Finance's Customs Department, confirmed on Tuesday that his staff have seized 739 African ivory tusks, weighing four tons and worth about 200 million baht, from a container on a cargo vessel arriving in Thailand on April 18. Somchai told journalists that the large lot of smuggled ivory tusks, which were declared as beans, came from Congo and were officially destined for Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and China. According to the Thai customs chief, all the seized ivory tusks will be soon forwarded to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation for further action. Meanwhile, an active atmosphere was reported on last day of nationwide ivory registrations, as owners of ivory tusks and products were registering their belongings with authorities within the April 21 dateline, set by the government. In Bangkok, over 800 people, including about 100 representatives of companies and temples, as well as monks, were lining up at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to file registration forms, after which officials would check their belongings and issue possession licences. In Surin Province in the Thai Northeast, well-known for its large elephant population, nearly 3,000 people have sought the registrations, as most local households and over 10 shops have ivory. In Phitsanulok, Phetchabun and Uttaradit Provinces in the Lower Thai North, more than 200 people sought the registrations at the department's branch in Phitsanulok on Tuesday alone. Over 20,000 people have sought the registrations nationwide, while about 50 per cent of their ivory tusks and products were claimed to come from pet elephants. After the registration dateline, the department's officials will arrest those illegally possessing ivory who will, each, face a fine of up to 3 million baht. (TNA)