Dubai foils bids to traffic ivory worth Dh5 million

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Dubai foils bids to traffic ivory worth Dh5 million

Police officers and other officials with the seized ivory.

Dubai - 622kg of ivory was seized from transit passengers who were found attempting to smuggle it from Africa to American and Asian countries.

Amira Agarib

Published: Wed 26 Aug 2015, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Thu 27 Aug 2015, 3:22 AM

The Dubai Police seized 622kg of ivory worth Dh5 million last month. The ivory was seized from transit passengers who were found attempting to smuggle it from Africa to American and Asian countries, the police said.
The General Department of Airport Security said they busted five bids to smuggle ivory last month.
The seized ivory has been handed over to the Ministry of Environment and Water in accordance with Federal Law No. 11 of 2002.
Brigadier Abdullah Hussain Khan, Director of the department, said the Dubai Police are committed to implementing domestic and international policies regarding the protection of endangered animals and plants.
Ivory products are banned for trade by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites). The UAE became a signatory to Cites in 1990.
Captain Khaled Mohammed Noor, acting Director of Airport Police Department, said officers of the department have attended special workshops conducted by the ministry to curb ivory smuggling bids.
He said the police, ministry and the International Fund for Animal Welfare coordinate to launch annual campaigns to curb the illegal trade.
According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, 50,000 elephants are killed every year to meet the growing demand for ivory.
In March this year, the Dubai Police had intercepted 300kg of ivory while on transit in Dubai International Airport from the Ivory Coast to Vietnam. The seized ivory was worth around Dh11 million, and about 40 elephants are believed to have been killed for it.
The 84 pieces of ivory were handed over to the Ministry of Environment and Water.
In April, the ministry destroyed over 10 tonnes of raw and crafted ivory seized in the country over the years.
amira@khaleejtimes.com