Hong Kong seize record haul of animal scales bound for Vietnam

Incredible seizure: A customs officer standing in front of sacks of seized pangolin scales during a press conference at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound in Hong Kong. — AFP

HONG KONG: Hong Kong customs busted a massive endangered species smuggling operation from Africa, seizing a record quantity of pangolin scales along with more than 1,000 ivory tusks, as authorities step up the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking.

The value of the seized goods – which equates to around 500 elephants and up to 13,000 pangolins – was over HK$62mil, (RM32mil) officials said yesterday.