Tons of ivory found at northern port

Local authorities said Monday they had found the tusks, which were illegally trafficked from Africa in three suspicious containers.

The containers belonged to a haul that began in Angola, was then transported to Singapore, and finally to the Nam Hai Dinh Vu Port in Hai Phong. The containers were inspected when authorities noticed that the receiver’s details were labeled inaccurately.

One container alone contained over 7 tons of elephant tusks, and authorities said the total amount of trafficked goods could amount to dozens of tons. The Hai Phong Customs Department said the amount of elephant tusks found was the largest haul to ever be discovered in the city.

Earlier this month, Hai Phong customs officers also found a total of around 610 kg of trafficked elephant tusks on two occasions.

Vietnam outlawed the ivory trade in 1992, but the country remains a top market for ivory products prized locally for decorative and medicinal purposes, according to conservation groups.