Shanghai seizes smuggled ivory

Shanghai custom officials said Wednesday that they had seized elephant tusks smuggled from Africa, weighing over 95 kilograms. Two suspects, surnamed Yang and Zhu, were found carrying eight tusks and another 200 ivory products in four suitcases on Jan.28 in Pudong International Airport, a statement from the Shanghai customs said. The case is the biggest seizure of its kind at Pudong International Airport custom since 1999. The suspects are in custody. China is a signatory to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species which bans ivory smuggling. The maximum penalty for buying and selling the product is life imprisonment.