Record amount of 262 kg of ivory seized
At the beginning of July 2015, employees of the Zurich Airport customs office seized around 262 kg of ivory during a check on tourist traffic, the Federal Customs Administration announced today.
The ivory, which is subject to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES and is subordinate to the Import into Switzerland prohibited was distributed in eight suitcases. The suitcases had been checked in by three Chinese nationals in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) via Zurich with destination Beijing, China.
Black market value of about 400 000 francs
The elephant tusks were sawed so that they could be transported in the suitcases. In addition, 1 kg of lion tusks and claws were also found in the suitcases. The ivory is believed to be worth around 400,000 francs on the black market.
The suitcases were seized by Swiss customs. Further investigations are being carried out by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO). Due to the violations against customs and species protection regulations, the three men have to expect heavy fines.
Switzerland has signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES or Washington Convention). The Convention aims to protect wild animals and plants as an irreplaceable part of the Earth's natural system and to ensure, through international cooperation, that endangered species of animals and plants or those threatened with extinction are not overexploited by international trade.
In cooperation with the FSVO, Swiss Customs is making an important contribution to the protection of endangered animal and plant species, according to the release.
More about illegal species trade here.
