Zhuhai’s Gongbei Customs said in a statement earlier this week that it has recently apprehended a man at the Barrier Gate checkpoint for attempting to smuggle two African elephant ivory statuettes weighing 1.6 kilogrammes from Macau to the mainland.
The statement noted that on the morning of May 20, customs officers intercepted a man from the mainland, surnamed Li, in the “green channel” at the Gongbei Port inspection hall.
In this context, “port” means border checkpoint.
Officers noticed that Li appeared nervous and was attempting to avoid the luggage X-ray inspection. Upon inspection, they discovered two ivory statuettes weighing about 1.6 kilogrammes in his backpack. After appraisal by the Gongbei Customs Technology Centre, it was confirmed that the figurines were crafted from African elephant ivory.
In the statement, Gongbei Customs reminded the public that African elephants are listed as protected species under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It is prohibited to transport endangered species and their products across border checkpoints without a valid CITES export or import certificate and proper customs procedures. The statement emphasised that serious violations may result in criminal liability.
This undated handout photo provided by Zhuhai’s Gongbei Customs yesterday shows the smuggled African elephant ivory statuettes.
