Ivory smuggling investigation between Thailand and Zambia

Thai authorities seized approximately 3.1 tonnes of African elephant ivory and wildlife remains, valued at roughly 155 million baht, at Laem Chabang Port. The contraband was discovered concealed within 32 hollowed-out timber logs that had been sealed with paraffin wax to bypass X-ray detection. The total shipment weighed approximately 56 tonnes and was traced back to Zambia.

In response, Thailand’s Natural Resources and Environment Minister ordered DNA testing on 400 of the seized tusks to determine their precise geographic origin. This forensic effort, involving the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, the Customs Department, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), aims to coordinate with INTERPOL to identify the perpetrators and the shipment’s intended destination.

Simultaneously, the Zambian government has launched an investigation. Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary Evans Muhanga stated that inter-agency teams are working with Thai officials to verify export documents and bills of lading to establish the exact circumstances of the consignment.