Thai authorities seize illegal ivory at airport in crates marked 'marble pieces'

[IceWizard]

Http://foxnews.com/world/2015/07/06/thai...le-pieces/


BANGKOK – Thai authorities say they
have seized 250 kilograms (550 pounds) of
ivory — or about 130 tusks and pieces —
hidden in crates being shipped from Africa
to Asia.

Customs officials said Monday they
intercepted wooden crates marked "marble
pieces" that contained four suitcases with
the ivory hidden inside at Bangkok's
Suvarnabhumi Airport on Friday.

Customs deputy director-general Chamroen
Photiyod said the ivory was worth about 10
million baht, or $300,000.

He said the shipment, which was headed to
Laos, had originated in Congo and
transited through several countries before
Thai authorities stopped it.

This is the 11th ivory seizure the Thai
Customs Department has made this year.

Thailand is a major transit hub and
destination for smuggled tusks, which are
often carved into tourist trinkets and
ornaments.