Officers from Shanghai Customs announced Wednesday that they have uncovered "China's biggest ivory smuggling case since the founding of New China in 1949," in which 3,334.6 kilograms of African ivory was seized at the Waigaoqiao Port in Pudong District.

While Customs officers and police are still investigating, some details of the "amazing smuggling" racket were revealed yesterday.

On August 28, the Customs office at Waigaoqiao Port received a Custom declaration from a local import and export firm - whose identity was not revealed - that claimed to import 17.6 tons of rosewood board from Kenya in a 20-cubic-meter container.

However, such containers can only hold 15 tons of board. Besides, the English name for the goods on the declaration form was different from that on the company's invoice, officers said.

"The whole thing had a suspicious ring to it because it's quite bizarre for a firm to declare more than the actual amount, which would mean paying more tax," said Yu Wujin, a customs spokesman.

As a result, the Custom detained the container and conducted a check two days later, coming up with the ivory haul.

Officers found 64 bags of African ivory, including 303 complete sets and pieces that could be assembled into 408 more complete sets.

Since 2001, Shanghai Customs has uncovered 45 ivory smuggling cases, in which 20 suspects were prosecuted and two jailed for five to six years.

"Most people only know they can't brazenly carry ivory across the border," said Yang Jianguo, a Custom officer. "In their view, even if they are caught, the most serious punishment will be confiscation and fine."

But according to the Chinese Criminal Law, those who smuggle ivory and its products valued below 100,000 yuan (US$12,048) can incur a maximum of five years of imprisonment and be fined, while those who smuggle ivory articles worth more than 200,000 yuan can be jailed for life or even get the death penalty.

(eastday.com September 26, 2002)