Zambia and Thailand investigate massive ivory seizure

Thai customs officials at Laem Chabang port have seized over 3.1 tonnes of African elephant ivory and wildlife remains, valued at approximately 155 million baht. The contraband was discovered hidden inside 32 hollowed-out timber logs that had been sealed with paraffin wax to evade X-ray detection. The shipment, which weighed roughly 56 tonnes in total, was traced back to Zambia.

The Zambian government has launched an investigation into the shipment. Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary Evans Muhanga stated that inter-agency teams are working with Thai customs officials to verify bills of lading and export documents. While preliminary information suggests the shipment may have originated in Zambia, authorities are still working to establish the exact circumstances and origin of the consignment.

The seizure was facilitated by intelligence sharing between Thai agencies and international organizations, including the Wildlife Justice Commission and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.