VietNamNet Bridge – Suspect goods seized by Ho Chi Minh City’s customs officials have been identified as three African ivory tusks weighing a total of 4.2 kg, the Institute of Tropical Biology reported on February 17.

Illustrative image. – File photo

The ivory tusks, worth a total of VND2 billion, were listed in the 2012 World Red Book, the institute said.

On February 12, the customs officials checked the batch of goods, which was sent from France to Vietnam and declared as clothes, as they suspected it included banned imported goods hidden in the luggage.

It was later sent to the Institute of Tropical Biology under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology for examination.

The goods have been seized for further investigation.

Ivory-based products sell at high prices in Vietnam. The Government has banned both the import of elephant tusks and the hunting of elephants for tusks.

Source: VOV