An extreme large amount of 10 tonnes of African ivory was found in the port of Da Nang in Vietnam on 28 March, 2019.
The Cong Thuong Online News channel reports, Da Nang Customs, the Department of Environmental Police, Da Nang Port Border Guard Board and Central Region Anti-Smuggling Control Team had investigated cargo of a ship names SB Singapore. Inspections discovered 3 containers which were packed with rosewood. But instead of staples of wood, these were rosewood boxes stuffed with ivory.
African Ivory found in Vietnam @congthuong.vn
The wood and ivory was shipped form The Congo on 20th March. It was send to a registered company in Quang Nam.
Vietnam’s illegal ivory markets are still thriving, according to a report by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network.
Over two surveys conducted between November 2016 and June 2017, TRAFFIC’s researchers found more than 10,000 ivory items being offered for sale across 852 physical outlets and 17 online platforms. This suggests that Vietnam’s ivory markets, one of the world’s biggest, has persisted over the past few decades, the researchers say.
The team carried out surveys in 10 cities, including Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Ha Long, Mong Cai, Vinh, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Buon Ma Thuot and Ho Chi Minh City; and three villages: Nhi Khe in Ha Noi, and Ban Don and Lak in Daklak province. Ho Chi Minh City and Buon Ma Thuot had the highest number of ivory items for sale. The two villages of Ban Don and Lak, however, had a disproportionately high number of items on sale compared to the number of stores. Among the online platforms, social media websites had the highest number of ivory offers for sale.
TRAFFIC’s investigation found that Vietnam’s ivory markets, while persistent, keep changing. Researchers not only found ivory for sale in places where previous studies had found none, they also observed shifts in markets within their two surveys, over just an eight-month period.
“Until Vietnam takes decisive action against its persistent illegal ivory markets in line with its commitments under CITES [Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora], it will continue to undermine the international response to the elephant poaching crisis,” said a research and data management officer at TRAFFIC.