Thailand seizes ivory haul from Malawi

Thailand has seized more than 300 kilogrammes of ivory from Malawi on flights into Bangkok's main airport, authorities announced Tuesday, underscoring the country's continued role as a regional smuggling hub. The latest haul of some 422 pieces of elephant tusks highlights the extensive international links boasted by wildlife gangs.
Packages stuffed with ivory, together weighing 330 kilogrammes, were discovered on two Ethiopian Airline flights from Addis Ababa, the customs department said in a statement, adding that the parcels had originated in Malawi's capital Lilongwe. A Gambian man, who came to collect the packages on Sunday, was arrested and charged with smuggling banned wildlife products the statement added.