A number of large-scale ivory seizures have taken place in recent weeks Click photo to enlarge © Martin Harvey / WWF-Canon September 2010—In early September, Hong Kong Customs reported the seizure of 384 elephant tusks, weighing more than 1.5 tonnes. It followed hot on the heels of two seizures in late August: two-tonnes of ivory seized in Kenya and 116 tusks seized in DRC.

The Hong Kong seizure was in two shipping containers from Tanzania said to contain dried anchovies.

The shipment had arrived via Malaysia and was said to be the largest ivory shipment interecepted in Hong Kong in a decade.

The Kenya seizure was said to contain avocados and was destined for Malaysia, although it is unclear if this was to be the final destination.

Malaysia has previously acted as a transit point for illicit ivory cargoes destined for elsewhere in Asia.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, three Chinese citizens were arrested in August with 116 ivory tusks concealed inside six suitcases: they were attempting to board a flight to Kenya.

The volume of ivory in the seizures, and the regularity with which shipments are being intercepted indicates the illicit trade in African Elephant ivory is continuing at a serious level.