Hong Kong Customs announced Wednesday that an endangered species smuggling case was smashed with seizures including ivory tusks and rhino horns worth about 41 million HK dollars (about 5.28 million U.S. dollars).

Hong Kong Customs cracked the smuggling case on Tuesday at Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound through intelligence exchange with the Mainland Customs. A total of 1,120 ivory tusks, 13 rhino horns and five pieces of leopard skin, weighing about 2,266 kilograms in total, inside a container shipped from Nigeria to Hong Kong were seized.

The Group Head (Ports Control) of Hong Kong Customs Vincent Wong said at a press conference that they will continue to work closely with the Mainland Customs to combat transnational smuggling activities.

In addition, Hong Kong Customs will continue to cooperate with the city's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to enforce the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance and deter the trafficking of wildlife species.

Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing unmanifested cargoes is liable to a maximum fine of 2 million HK dollars and imprisonment for seven years.

Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of trading endangered species for commercial purposes is liable to a maximum fine of 5 million HK dollars and imprisonment for two years. (1 U.S. dollars = 7.76 U.S. dollars) Endi

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