IVORY |
South African smugglers wrapped more than $76,000 worth of ivory elephant tusks to resemble chocolate bars.
Elephant ivory seals coated in chocolate and concealed in candy wrappers that were recovered in Taiwan in 2012.
Chinese customs officials recently made a discovery that was sweet at first glance, but sour upon further inspection.
According to the Macau Daily Times, customs officers in Macau found two South Africans with 75 pounds of elephant ivory covered in chocolate and wrapped to resemble candy bars in their luggage.
All told, the smugglers were carrying more than $76,000 worth of ivory tusks in 15 boxes containing 583 bars, the Daily Times reported.
This wasn't the first time smugglers had attempted to disguise their valuable elephant tusks as chocolate bars. From September to December last fall, customers officers confiscated more than 90 ivory stamp seals on their way from South African to Taiwan, the World Wildlife Foundation reported.
According to the foundation, nearly 30,000 elephants are killed annually for their ivory tusks. The trade is worth as much as $10 billion per year.
Elephant ivory seals coated in chocolate and concealed in candy wrappers that were recovered in Taiwan in 2012.
According to the Macau Daily Times, customs officers in Macau found two South Africans with 75 pounds of elephant ivory covered in chocolate and wrapped to resemble candy bars in their luggage.
All told, the smugglers were carrying more than $76,000 worth of ivory tusks in 15 boxes containing 583 bars, the Daily Times reported.
This wasn't the first time smugglers had attempted to disguise their valuable elephant tusks as chocolate bars. From September to December last fall, customers officers confiscated more than 90 ivory stamp seals on their way from South African to Taiwan, the World Wildlife Foundation reported.
According to the foundation, nearly 30,000 elephants are killed annually for their ivory tusks. The trade is worth as much as $10 billion per year.
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