Record Amount Of Pangolin Scales, Ivory Seized

Hong Kong authorities have seized a record HK$62 million worth illegal wildlife products, the customs department said on Thursday.

The haul, which included 8,300 kilogrammes of pangolin scales – a record – and 2,100kg of ivory tusks, was seized at the Kwai Chung terminal.

Some wildlife experts said the seized haul equates to nearly 14,000 pangolins and more than 200 elephants.

The customs department is to reveal details of the operation, conducted along with mainland authorities, on Friday.

Earlier, in its annual review the department said the total amount of ivory tusks seized last year had risen 3.8-fold.

But the Commissioner of Customs, Hermes Tang, deflected criticism about the low rate of convictions over wildlife smuggling.

Tang said the department needs to adduce sufficient evidence to substantiate charges against offenders. "I do not see that we do not attach enough efforts to try to investigate offences related to endangered species," he said, citing the increase in seizures of wildlife products.

He said officers detected 745 cases last year – 72 percent more than 2017.

The customs department also reported a 1.8-fold increase in the seizure of the date rape drug, GBL, and an 83 percent rise in cocaine confiscated last year.

But Tang said he doesn't believe Hong Kong has become a transit hub for drugs.