Sharp-nosed Hong Kong sniffer dogs have detected 60 kilograms of worked ivory in packages mailed from Nigeria, it was revealed yesterday.
In a joint operation with the Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the Quarantine Detector Dogs put on their deerstalker hats and pulled out their magnifying glasses to identify 12 parcels containing the endangered animal parts at the Air Mail Centre, Chek Lap Kok, Lantau, on Feb. 10 and 16.
The packages are known to have come from Nigeria, but investigations into their exact origins are still ongoing.
Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing, exporting, re-exporting or possessing endangered species for commercial purposes without a licence could be fined up to HKD5 million and jailed for two years.
The AFCD reminds the public not to buy, import or export specimens or products of endangered species from dubious sources.
