Natural Resources Network NGO reported that the intercepted ivory represents the slaughter of 80 to 100 elephants. This is one of the largest seizures made on the African continent.
A shipment of one and a half tons of smuggled ivory was seized last weekend. Three suspected traffickers were arrested in Lubumbashi, in the southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a judicial source said Thursday, May 19. The origin and destination of the ivory are not known, an investigation is underway.
"Five people who were transporting the ivory in long trucks were arrested but two fled after questioning," the source of AFP informed. "The three Congolese arrested say they were simple transporters, who do not know the origin or final destination of the packages and claim that those who fled are the owners."
Natural Resources Network NGO representative assured AFP that he had seen "18 bags full of ivory weighing a total of more than 1,500 kg". According to him, this represents the slaughter of "80 to 100 elephants". "This is criminal," he commented. This is one of the largest ivory seizures made on the African continent.
The illegal ivory trade is the third most profitable form of trafficking after drugs and arms. Seizures of two to four tons have been made in Kenya and Togo over the past ten years. The largest recent seizure in the world was made in Vietnam, with nine tons discovered in March 2019 on a ship from Congo. Illegal ivory demand is fueled by high interest in Asia and the Middle East, where elephant tusks are used in traditional medicine and ornamentation.
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