Hong Kong customs agents have seized nearly a ton of illegal ivory worth about USD 1.5 million in the third big bust of endangered species products in three months.
Officials said today that they found a total of 189 elephant tusks weighing 769 kilograms (1,695 pounds) at the southern Chinese city's busy port.
The ivory was wrapped in linen and nylon bags and hidden in large bags of soybeans in containers on three separate ships.
The shipment came from Cote d'Ivoire and transited through Malaysia. Officials said the likely final destination was mainland China.
No one has been arrested.
In August, officials seized illegal ivory, rhino horns and leopard skins worth USD 5.3 million. In late July, they found two tons of tusks worth USD 2.25 million.
