Taipei – A Taiwan man was arrested Wednesday, accused of smuggling 59 kilogrammes of ivory from Malawi.
The man, identified only by his surname Hsiao, was arrested as he arrived from Hong Kong at the Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei, said Cho Ching-hui, spokesman for Taipei Customs.
Customs officers said Hsiao, 65, appeared nervous so they checked his luggage and found 21 tusks and semi-processed ivory totaling 59 kilogrammes.
Hsiao, who does business in Malawi, said he bought the ivory in Malawi legally at the price of 10 US dollars per kilo to make ivory carvings.
Hsiao was turned over for prosecution on charges of violating Taiwan’s conservation law, which bans trade in ivory. If convicted, he could face a maximum seven-year sentence.
