Thai Customs Seizes Ivory Valued at Over 100 Million Baht

CHONBURI, Oct 8 (TNA) - Thai Customs officials have seized nearly 500 pieces of ivory valued at over 100 million baht originating from Zambia, which was destined for Thailand. Authorities are coordinating with relevant agencies to expand investigations and prosecute those involved.

The Thai Customs Department held a press conference regarding the seizure of smuggled ivory and animal remains. Officers detected the contraband inside shipping containers at Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi Province following intelligence sharing between the Customs Department, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC), which flagged two suspicious containers. The cargo had been declared as 568 processed timber logs from Zambia.

Upon performing an X-ray scan at Laem Chabang Port, Customs officers discovered 32 modified logs with hidden compartments containing 446 pieces of ivory alongside unidentified animal remains. Officers subsequently opened the timber logs to extract, inspect, and verify the illegal contents inside.

Director-General of the Customs Department stated that the seized ivory is worth over 100 million baht and represents a major contraband lot. Both containers arrived in the same shipment, with preliminary data indicating Thailand was the final destination.

The Customs Department will coordinate with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to inspect the animal remains and conduct DNA testing to verify the species before taking further legal action. -819 (TNA)