Two Syrian nationals caught with 2kg ivory

Ahmedabad: Two Syrian nationals -a captain of a merchant vessel and his crew member- have been detained on Sunday by customs and forest department officials for carrying 2.2 kg ivory in their luggage. The officials reported that the ivory consignment was being smuggled through the Sardar Patel International Airport and was seized by the customs department on Sunday morning.
According to forest department officials, the transaction of elephant tusks has been banned internationally and the accused will be questioned and if needed, deported under CITES treaty.
The duo identified as Ibrahim Alchughri, 23 and Hesham Qutef, 34, captain of the ship MV King are citizens of Syrian Arab Republic and had come to India for dismantling the ship at Alang ship breaking yard near Bhavnagar. Ibrahim, a crew member of the ship, was found with two pieces of tusks in his luggage.
According to customs officials at Ahmedabad airport, the duo was to take a flight to Sharjah when a CISF official spotted two pieces of 1.5 feet long tusks in the X-ray machine.
Dinesh Kumar Sharma, conservator of forest (wild life crime), told TOI that the forest department will send the seized ivory to Wildlife Institute of India in Dehra Dun to ascertain its origin.
"If it is proved that they have purchased ivory from India, Ibrahim can be booked under Wildlife Protection Act. If not, he will be handed over to the country of origin under CITES agreement. Elephant tusks are sold in international market at $1500 per kg," said SK Nanda, secretary (forest) for Gujarat.
09/03/09 Times of India

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Categories: Airports Mar 2009