SA police seize 46 elephants tusks at Cape Town airport

July 2012. While on a routine inspection, South African customs officials spotted a suspicious activity at a Cape Town airport storage facility, and upon further investigation they came across parcels indicating the presence of elephant tusks. After the police were notified, an operation was conducted which led to the discovery of 46 tusks concealed in two different containers. The consignment appears to have been destined for Hong Kong. Two male suspects aged 36 and 43 respectively are being detained for the illegal possession of elephant tusks after members of the South African Police Hawks and Crime intelligence acted on information received from Custom officials. The suspects, both from Cape Town are due to make a court appearance once they have been charged. The value of the seized items will be established at a later stage after the Department of Nature Conservation have taken various aspects into account, such as weight and age. The circumstances surrounding the discovery are being investigated, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.