ILLEGAL: Zainul checks the shipment of elephant tusks seized in Port Klang as his officers look on. — Bernama photo
PORT KLANG: The Selangor Customs Department seized 695 elephant tusks weighing two tonnes and worth RM3 million in Westport yesterday.
Royal Malaysia Customs Department assistant director-general (Enforcement) Datuk Zainul Abidin Taib said the tusks were found in one of two 20-foot containers filled with recycled crushed plastic that were detained in Westport on Friday and inspected thoroughly yesterday.
The seizure followed a tip off from Selangor Customs Penang counterparts, he told a press conference here.
He said initial investigations showed the tusks originated from Tanzania and were headed to China before being re-exported to other Asian countries.
Zainul Abidin said on Aug 19, Penang Customs had also seized 664 elephant tusks weighing 1.6 tonnes that were worth RM2.3 million.
He believed the same smuggling syndicate was responsible in both cases. — Bernama