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URA Intercepts Three Containers Carrying Ivory and Pangoline scales
Katashumbwa displaying part of confiscated Ivories
Uganda Revenue Authority Customs department has intercepted three containers containing ivory and Pangolin scales at Elegu border post
Dickson Katashumbwa the commissioner Customs at URA while addressing Journalists at URA head offices in Nakawa said the containers were intercepted at Elegu border post when non-intrusive cargo scanners sensed something in the containers
The containers were coming from Congo to south Sudan along the Kampala south Sudan Boarder being smuggled by two Vietnamese Nationals whom he suspected to be members of trans-national organized syndicates that are smuggling goods across the world
Two vietnamese nationals L-R Nguyen Sondong and Pham Yanchien
Katashumbwa said each container was carrying 750 ivories and tones of Pangolin scales with over 400 elephants and over 1000 pangolin are expected to have been killed as they were packed in sealed tree logs and waxes.
“The smuggling is a multinational organized crime that is being carried throughout Africa by Multi nationalities “said Katashumbwa.
“The two Vietnamese caught smuggling the Ivories and Pangoline scales are Nguyen Sondong and Pham Yan Chen who are yet to be aligned in court as investigations are pending” said Katashumbwa
Pangoline scales that were being smuggled
The customs chief Katashumbwa said they plan to carry out an international exhibition in Conjunction with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) where they will burn and destroy the confiscated Ivories, Pangoline scales and other smuggled goods to send a message to the Smugglers.
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