Officials in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa have told reporters that Poached ivory tusk disguised as sun-dried fish has been seized at the port which was going to Malaysia.

Officials say a large consignment of some 770 pieces ivory tusk hacked out of elephants had come from neighboring Uganda and was destined for Malaysia when it was discovered and seized by port authorities.

The smugglers of the ivory were believed to have added fish to give off a spicy smell intended to throw off sniffer dogs from not recognizing the smell.

The Kenyan Wildlife Service spokesman, Paul Udoto told reporters that export documents showed that the ivory had come by vehicle from landlocked Uganda on 12 June and the consignment due to be shipped to Malaysia on 3 July.

“ The vehicle was parked at a petrol station in Mombasa, a regional trade hub, until the consignment was brought into the port, some bags had worked polished pieces of ivory, while others had raw ivory’’.

“The ivory was stashed in 69 bundles of several pieces and had been disguised as sun-dried fish, the value of the ivory had not yet been determined” Mr. Udoto added.

Asia is the biggest market for African Ivory which is mostly from west and east African nations and the ivory are being used as ornaments and other artifacts in Asia.

The Kenyan government and many African nations have banned trade in ivory which made poaching subsequently declined but there has been a rise in the illegal practice in recent years with poachers resorting to other methods in perpetuating their trade.

In January this year, two tones of ivory worth around $1m were seized in Mombasa port while in transit from Tanzania to Indonesia.

Kenya has recently taken a more aggressive stance against poaching as it tries to combat a surge in demand for ivory from Asia.

The seized ivory will be destroyed as that has been the practice involving when Ivory is seized from smugglers over the years.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

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