Philippines customs intercept elephant-tusk shipments
Philippine police have intercepted more than 800 kilogrammes of elephant tusks being smuggled into the country from Kenya, a customs officer said today.
The police were tipped off and seized the illegal shipments flown from Nairobi in two separate flights last month, said Dick Carino, chief of staff of the Manila airport customs collector.
Carino said no one had been arrested and an investigation was under way.
Trade in ivory was banned under the 1989 UN Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species to curb the slaughter of elephants in Africa.
The ban has helped in the recovery of the elephant population in several countries.
