Two Syrian Nationals Caught With 2kg Ivory

Two Syrian nationals caught with 2kg ivory TNN 9 March

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AHME DABAD

: Two Syrian nation als a captai n of a merch ant vessel and his crew memb er, have been detain ed on Sunda y by custo ms 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. "Ibrahim claims that he had purchased it from Tanzania en route. However, if they came from Alang, they must be thoroughly checked by customs officials there. The report will show whether it is Indian or African elephant's tusks," he said. "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. What is CITES CITES stands for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora. In total, 175 countries of the world are its members that bans trade of endangered species such as tigers, lions and their body parts. India became member of the treaty in the year 1976. Trophy owners have to take licence A forest official told TOI that licence is required for possession of animal trophies including tusks. "Not many people are aware of the existing laws and if someone is found with trophies without valid licence of possession, they can be punished under wildlife prevention act and also IPC. Tusks are one such item," he said.