2 arrested in Bangkok for ivory smuggling

A huge haul of ivory confiscated in Nairobi in 2009. Credit KWS.

13.7 tons of ivory seizures in 2009
November 2009. Two Thai nationals were arrested on November 16 in Bangkok, and charged with illegally trading African ivory.

During the investigation, ivory purchases were made from the suspects and sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab in Ashland, Oregon, for DNA testing. Tests confirmed the ivory was of African origin, revealing that it had been smuggled into Thailand before it was illegally exported. Special agents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service worked closely with the Royal Thai Police during the investigation.

Thailand was recently identified as one of the hotspots for the illegal ivory trade, along with Nigeria & DRC.

"Consumer demand in developed countries such as the United States for items made of ivory fuels this illicit trade, and the Internet facilitates this," said Paul Chang, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent in Charge. "People who care about wildlife should take responsibility to confirm that what they're buying is legal."

Illegal wildlife trade worth $30 billion per year
Spanning three continents, the crime confirms Asia as an evolving international transit point for illegal trade in endangered species and their derivatives. Southeast Asia is already known to be a major source of illegally traded wildlife, supplying a global black market estimated to be worth $10 billion - $30 billion USD annually.

4 years in prison
The accused face a maximum of four years in prison and fines of up to $1,150 (U.S.) under Thailand's Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act that protects species listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), and up to $2,950 (U.S.) under the Customs Act for the import and export of illegal goods.

"The activities of organized networks trafficking in illegal wildlife have a devastating impact on recovery of rare species in the wild," said Paul Chang. "These illegal actions are a cancer inhibiting our best efforts in protecting the world's wildlife resources."

Chang called the investigation "a fine example of important international cooperation."

13.7 tons of ivory seized in Asia this year
On August 21, 2009, Thai Customs reported the seizure of approximately 2 tons of ivory believed to be from Africa and worth an estimated $1.5 million USD in several operations at Suvarnabhumi International Airport this year. On May 20, 2009, Philippines Customs reported the seizure of 3.5 tons of elephant tusks transported to Manila in two containers from Tanzania and worth an estimated $2 million USD. On March 6, 2009, Vietnam Customs seized 6.2 tons of African elephant tusks at a Hai Phong Port estimated to be worth more than $29 million USD. They seized a further 2 tons of elephant ivory shipped from Africa at the same port in August, 2009.

The remarkable surge in 2009 reflects a series of large-scale ivory seizures that suggest an increased involvement of organized crime syndicates in the trade, connecting African source countries with Asian end-use markets. The ETIS data indicate that such syndicates have become stronger and more active over the last decade.

The international illegal ivory trade is considered the primary reason for the continuing decline in Africa's elephant populations. CITES signatories agreed to an international ban on the trade of African elephant ivory in 1989. Effective international wildlife law enforcement is crucial to ensuring this ban provides real protection for Africa's elephants.

The arrests followed a two year-long international joint investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement and the Royal Thai Police, with support from FREELAND Foundation and the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN).

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement is committed to supporting international efforts to shutdown illegal networks.