Two tons of African ivory seized
June 19 2012 at 05:06pm
By SAPA
Interpol on Tuesday said its biggest international operation against ivory
traffickers had led to more than 200 arrests and yielded nearly two tonnes
of contraband ivory.
The three-month-long Operation Worthy, spread across 14 countries in east,
south and west Africa, also led to the recovery of more than 20 kilograms of
rhinoceros horn, a statement said.
Leopard and cheetah pelts, crocodile and python skins and live specimens of
other protected species were found. Firearms including AK-47s and M16 rifles
were also recovered.
“This has been to date the most wide-ranging operation coordinated by
Interpol against the illegal ivory trade, not just in terms of seizures and
arrests, but also in targeting the criminal organisations,” said David
Higgins, manager of Interpol’s Environmental Crime Programme.
The drive drew more than 320 officials from the police, customs and
environmental protection agencies.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), which sponsored a training
programme for the participants ahead of the operation, said ivory poaching
was rising sharply.
“Thousands of elephants are butchered for their ivory every year and the
situation continues to worsen,” said Kelvin Alie, IFAW’s Wildlife Crime
Director.
“2011 was the worst year on record for seizures with over 23 tonnes of ivory
seized,” he said. “These animals suffer terribly as they are cruelly killed
or wounded so that their skins, tusks, quills and other body parts can be
torn off and trafficked.”
The countries which participated in the operation were Botswana, Ethiopia,
Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South
Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Seizures of contraband ivory in Africa and China have soared in recent years
as syndicates with deep roots in the billion-dollar wildlife smuggling trade
seek to feed the spike in demand among increasingly wealthy Chinese. –
Sapa-AFP