Ivory trade cache goes for disposal

Brig Gen Ali Lahej and colleagues with the 300 kilos of ivory which was confiscated by airport officials. Courtesy Al Ittihad

Hundreds of kilos of ivory have been given to the Ministry of Environment and Water for disposal.

The ivory, weighing 300 kilos, was seized last month by Dubai International Airport officials. It was bound for Vietnam from the Ivory Coast.

About 40 elephants would have been killed to make up the quantity of ivory discovered, said Brig Gen Ali Lahej, the director of general administration for airport security.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species has banned the international trade in ivory.