Thai police announce the largest seizure of smuggled ivory in a decade

Thai police announced the largest seizure of smuggled ivory in a decade on Monday, with nine people arrested and accused of trying to sell 250 kilograms of African elephant tusks via Facebook.

Anti-wildlife trafficking authorities said the arrests and seizures of ivory, valued at around $300,000 and smuggled by ship from Africa, occurred across seven provinces in Thailand on Thursday.

An officer discovered a private Facebook group selling smuggled African ivory in Thailand, adding that after months of investigating police had arrested nine Thais who were group administrators tasked with posting the ivory for sale.

The group were charged with illegal possession and trade of protected wildlife parts, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a million baht fine, or both. The ivory haul included cut pieces and fragments, as well as prayer beads, jewellery and knife handles, police said, adding that the target buyers were Thai and Vietnamese.