Dubai Customs seizes 215 pieces of ivory

The Dubai Customs aborted an attempt to smuggle into the country a large consignment of ivory hidden in 40 boxes containing green beans. The customs authorities put the market value of 215 pieces of fine ivory seized at the Jebel Ali Port at around Dh15 million. The consignment which originated in an African country had sparked suspicion of the customs personnel, who eventually scanned the container to ascertain the presence of contraband. The inspectors then manually searched the boxes and found that it contained ivory of 108 poached elephants of various ages. Poaching has caused a decline of African elephants from millions to a few hundred thousand individuals in the past decades.