TOGO: Togo vows to choke Ivory trafficking route through its ports.

Record ID: 182418

  • Title: TOGO: Togo vows to choke Ivory trafficking route through its ports.
  • Date: 12th February 2014
  • Summary: LOME, TOGO (FEBRUARY 04, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SEIZED IVORY HAUL ON DISPLAY SUSPECTED IVORY SMUGGLERS IN HAND CUFFS STANDING NEAR IVORY HAUL VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE / MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT ANDRE JOHNSON AND SECURITY MINISTER, YARK DAMEHANE AT NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) ANDRE JOHNSON, TOGO'S MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT SAYING: "We suspect they are coming from Central Africa. However, cooperation with partners such as the United States can help us gather DNA, which will help us to better monitor the traceability of the origin of the ivory. But if we look at our own elephant population, which is at 115 elephants, I do not think that Togo with such an elephant population is the source of this trafficking. Togo is used as a transit country, the ivory is not coming from here." VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) YARK DAMEHANE, TOGO'S MINISTER OF SECURITY SAYING: "This ivory comes from Central Africa. It comes on vessels that are docked on our shores, and in many cases comes on-board unregistered boats and once in our territory, the ivory is smuggled with the assistance of some carpenters, who hide them amongst wooden logs."
  • Embargoed: 27th February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA19FSQZ1T07M51PPER5ARX73AZ
  • Story Text: Togolese authorities seized nearly four tonnes of ivory - the tusks from over 500 dead elephants - hidden in containers destined for Vietnam on Monday (February 3), in the latest seizure to raise concern over Togo being the new transit stage for the illegal ivory trade in Africa.
    The tusks, disguised as cashew nuts and timber, were found late last month, underscoring a flow of ivory to Asia that environmentalists warn is decimating elephant populations and diplomats say also risks fuelling conflict in Africa.
    According to officials, the value of the haul is estimated at around $8 million (4.9 million) on the international market.
    Two locals and a man from Vietnam, where the containers were headed to, were arrested but it was not clear where the ivory came from.
    Authorities say they are working on tracing the source of the ivory through DNA tests.
    "We suspect they are coming from Central Africa. However, cooperation with partners such as the United States can help us gather DNA, which will help us to better monitor the traceability of the origin of the ivory. But if we look at our own elephant population, which is at 115 elephants, I do not think that Togo with such an elephant population is the source of this trafficking. Togo is used as a transit country, the ivory is not coming from here," said Togo's environment minister, Andre Johnson.
    "This ivory comes from Central Africa. It comes on vessels that are docked on our shores, and in many cases comes on-board unregistered boats and once in our territory, the ivory is smuggled with the assistance of some carpenters, who hide them amongst wooden logs," said Yark Damehane, Togo's security minister.
    The international trade in ivory has been banned but conservationists say African elephants are being poached at an alarming rate, especially in Central Africa.
    The United Nations warned last year that the ivory trade had become an important source of funding for armed groups and was a growing security concern, especially in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad and Gabon.
    "You know, if nothing is done, African elephants will disappear. The fight that Togo is fighting is not only a fight for Togo, but one for the protection of biodiversity across Africa. These efforts should be encouraged by all the partners and invite technical and financial partners to support the government in its efforts to fight against trafficking and therefore the protection of biodiversity in Africa," said conservationist Fabrice Kodjo Ebeh.
    "Of course we still worry, we are happy when these seizures take place, but we have come to realise that the trafficking of ivory is on the rise. Togo has managed to do something very powerful. Traffickers are mobile, and maybe tomorrow they will go to neighbouring countries, they will go to Nigeria, Benin. We hope that other countries will follow the example given here and double their efforts because it is not the problem of a country, even a continent. This is really an inter-continental problem and all countries should get involved," said Gabon based, Luc Maton, International Organisation For Justice.
    Togolese authorities have invested in new hi-tech scanning equipment at the main port to help intercept shipments of ivory that are often hidden in large containers amongst other goods.
    Elephants are hunted for their tusks, which are mainly used for carvings but are also used in traditional medicines.
    The demand mainly comes from Asia, home to growing economies that are increasingly expanding into Africa.
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