VIETNAM SEIZES 1.2 TONS OF SMUGGLED IVORY, BONES FROM AFRICA

Sat 15 August 2026:

Vietnamese authorities have seized nearly 1.2 metric tons (2,630 pounds) of illegal elephant ivory and about 80 kilograms (176 pounds) of animal bones hidden inside timber crates shipped from Africa, VietNamNet reported Friday.

The shipment, which arrived from the Republic of Congo in three containers, was intercepted at Quy Nhon Port in central Vietnam, according to Gia Lai Provincial Police.

Authorities began inspecting the cargo, which was declared as nearly 65 cubic meters (2,295 cubic feet) of sawn timber, on Aug. 6 after scanners detected suspicious empty spaces inside 12 reinforced wooden boxes.

Investigators found 221 pieces of elephant ivory weighing 1,193 kg (2,630 lb), along with 79.3 kg (175 lb) of animal bones.

The ivory and bones had been sealed in wax and concealed beneath timber to avoid detection.

Tests showed that the tusks came from elephants, while the bones were from big cats.

Both are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates international trade in endangered species.

Police launched a criminal investigation and temporarily detained several suspects linked to the importing company.

Officials said the case was one of the largest illegal wildlife trafficking cases uncovered in central Vietnam and the biggest seizure ever recorded at Quy Nhon Port.

The investigation into the suspected smuggling ring is ongoing.

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Illegal smuggling of ivory and wildlife parts from Africa is a major transnational crime driven by demand in Asia. African elephants are poached for their tusks — known as ivory — which is carved into ornaments, jewelry, and status symbols. Other animal parts, such as bones from big cats like tigers or leopards, are sought for traditional medicine. Despite a near-total international ban under the CITES convention since 1989, the black-market trade continues.

Most of the ivory originates in Central and West Africa — countries like the Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, or Angola. Criminal networks kill the animals, then hide the tusks and bones inside shipping containers, often mixed with legal cargo such as timber. These containers travel by sea to ports in Vietnam, which has become a key transit and consumer hub. From there, some of the contraband is sold locally or moved onward to China and other markets.

The scale is significant: over the past decade, seizures alone have represented tens of thousands of elephants. A recent example is the August 2026 seizure in Vietnam of nearly 1.2 tons of ivory and almost 80 kilograms of big-cat bones — one of the largest cases in central Vietnam — that arrived hidden in timber crates from the Congo.

This trade devastates elephant populations, funds organized crime, and undermines conservation efforts across Africa. Authorities continue to intercept shipments and open criminal investigations, but the networks adapt quickly, keeping the illicit flow alive.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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