Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Record haul of illegal ivory seized

Record haul of illegal ivory seized

Record haul of illegal ivory seized

Customs officials seized a record-breaking 3-tonne shipment of ivory found in a container at the Sihanoukville Provincial Autonomous Port on Friday, police said.

“This elephant ivory was hidden inside a soybean container . . . It was [to be] imported from Malaysia to a third country via Cambodia,” Colonel Seang Kosal, acting chief of Preah Sihanouk provincial police, said. “It was found after customs police scanned the soybean container and found [the ivory],” he added.

Upon opening and check-ing the container, customs police uncovered 108 packages of ivory weighing more than 3,000 kilograms. The ivory is being held at the port for further examination.

“Police now are searching for the owner of this ivory in order to bring him or her to court,” Kosal said.

Lou Kimsrun, director of the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Autonomous Port, could not be reached for comment.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Famed US collector family return artefacts to Cambodia

    In the latest repatriation of ancient artefacts from the US, a total of 33 pieces of Khmer cultural heritage will soon return home, according to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. In a September 12 press statement, it said the US Attorney’s Office for the

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • Kampot curfew imposed to curb ‘gang’ violence

    Kampot provincial police have announced measures to contain a recent spike in antisocial behaviour by “unruly’ youth. Officials say the province has been plagued by recent violence among so-called “gang members”, who often fight with weapons such as knives and machetes. Several social observers have

  • PM outlines plans to discuss trade, policy during US visit

    Prime Minister Hun Manet is set to meet with senior US officials and business leaders during his upcoming visit to the US for the UN General Assembly (UNGA), scheduled for September 20. While addressing nearly 20,000 workers in Kampong Speu province, Manet said he aims to affirm

  • Manet touches down in Beijing for high-level meetings

    Prime Minister Hun Manet arrived in Beijing on September 14 for his first official visit to China, where he is slated to attend the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and meet other leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Upon his arrival, Manet laid a wreath at the Monument