Surin man caught with B5m in ivory

[Rice]

A Surin man suspected of engaging in the illegal-ivory trade was arrested after African elephant tusks worth more than 5 million baht were found in his Tha Tum district hut. Kampol "Riam" Noithanom, 47, a native of tambon Krapo, appeared at a police press conference Thursday following a raid on his Taklang village shack where 51 African ivory tusks, weighing a total 134.7kg, were found hidden in an ice container in a pickup truck there, Thai media reported on Friday Mr Kampol was charged with illegal possession of carcasses of a wild animal. Police said the suspect confessed he had bought the tusks from an ivory trader in Nonthaburi. Some pieces would be processed as decorative ornaments and exported to markets abroad. Pol Gen Chalermkiart Srivorakhan, deputy national police chief, asked Surin police via video conference to coordinate with other relevant agencies to crack down on ivory smugglers in Surin - one of 12 provinces under close watch for illegal ivory trading. There were more than 30 shops selling ivory items in this border province, said the deputy police chief.
Thailand's crackdown on ivory trade would boost confidence among the international community, particularly among Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) countries, said Pol Gen Chalermkiart. Cites prohibits trade in elephant products and endangered species.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/crime/453903/surin-man-caught-with-b5m-in-ivory

 

[AussieBill]

African elephants, huh? Maybe the penalties would be more severe for poaching Surin elephants!

 

[Rice]

I went to Koh Chang last year and at the Elephant compound they sold ivory from deceased elephants from the compound to finance their operations. My wife was interested in some small trinket. I asked the shop manager for a CITES certificate to a test to the ivory origin. To my surprise they knew what I was talking about and produced one. To my shock she said "You know, I have worked here three years and no one has ever asked for this certificate." Goes to show how ignorant tourists are. Without the certificate the ivory can be confiscated at their countries customs.
Just as I was having the conversation there was a power failure and the certificate and sale could not be finalized. No purchase was made that day. Just as well really as I really did not trust them any way.

 

[isanbirder]

African elephants, huh? Maybe the penalties would be more severe for poaching Surin elephants!

African elephants have bigger tusks. Asian elephants are more at risk because of habitat destruction.... and misguided perpetuation of obsolete 'technologies' (logging etc), and of course tourism.