Hong Kong Nabs $1.5M In Ivory In 3rd Big Bust Since July

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong customs agents have seized nearly a ton of illegal ivory worth about $1.5 million in the third big bust of endangered species products in three months.

Officials said Thursday that they found a total of 189 elephant tusks weighing 769 kilograms (1,695 pounds) at the southern Chinese city's busy port.

The ivory was wrapped in linen and nylon bags and hidden in large bags of soybeans in containers on three separate ships.

The shipment came from Cote d'Ivoire and transited through Malaysia. Officials said the likely final destination was mainland China.

No one has been arrested.

In August, officials seized illegal ivory, rhino horns and leopard skins worth $5.3 million. In late July, they found two tons of tusks worth $2.25 million.

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