In what is considered as the biggest haul of Singapore’s History, the authorities in the country stopped a shipment that was carrying 9.7 tons of ivory.
The seizure was made in Singapore and the shipment was coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo and was supposed to be delivered in Vietnam.
According to a statement that was released by the Customs of Singapore, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, and the National Parks Board, authorities in Singapore also seized 13.1 tons of Pangolin Scales.
Officials confirmed that the ivory seized in the operation came from around 300 elephants, the market value of the ivory is around $12.9 million USD.
The Pangolin Scales that were seized came from 2000 Giant Ground Pangolins, the market value of the pangolin scales is around $35.7 million USD.
Kim Stengert, the chief communications officer for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Singapore, said, “Singapore has always been inadvertently implicated in the global ivory trade for two reasons: its global connectivity, as well as the presence of a small domestic market where pre-1990s ivory can be legally sold.”
The statement added that armor scales of Pangolins are coveted for “cultural and ethno-medicinal purposes.”
In 2019 alone, Singapore has seized a total of 41.3 tons of pangolin scales.
Earlier this year, Singapore seized 177 kilograms of Ivory.
Tanya Steele, chief executive at World Wildlife Fund, said that “Around 55 African elephants are killed for their ivory a day, their tusks turned into carvings and trinkets.”
Poachers in Africa brutally slaughter elephants every year for their tusks.
The high demand in China for ivory is currently being named for the slaughtering of the poor animals in Africa.
In China, ivory is still seen by many as a symbol of wealth and luxury.