Man arrested in Spain for trying to sell 74 African elephant tusks illegally
The Man tried to sell the 744Kgs of ivory worth 200,000 euros with a fake licence said the police. The license allowed for one elephant and not 37 as the doctored version said, in addition the license was issued in 1970 in Mozambique.
Ivory trade was banned in 1989 by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The man has been charged with falsifying documents, smuggling and endangering wildlife. Some countries allow for resale of ivory that was bought before the international ban, and CITES-approved government stockpiles can also be sold with certification.
Africa is home to between 450 000 to 500 000 elephants, but more than 30 000 are killed every year on the continent to satisfy demand for ivory.
Ivory which sell for around 1, 000 dollars in Asia is used for folk medicines and ornaments around the world.
Elephants and Rhinos have become endangered because of the increased illegal heavy armed poaching.
