54 pieces of elephant ivory that were being sold illegally online were seized.
Madrid, May 9 (EFE).- The Civil Guard has seized 54 pieces of elephant ivory that were being illegally traded on specialized websites. They were seized from a businessman in Bizkaia, who is being investigated for crimes against flora and fauna and a violation of the Smuggling Law.
Furthermore, according to a statement from the Civil Guard, Operation RibTool has found another 68 ivory sculptures that this businessman was offering without CITES certification, which regulates the international trade of endangered species of fauna and flora.
The trade in elephant ivory, both raw and processed, is generally prohibited in the EU, according to the armed forces.
It was agents from the Civil Guard's Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) who detected the irregular sale of ivory pieces on specialized websites, where they found nearly 40 advertisements for the sale of ivory figures.
As a result, a user residing in Bizkaia was identified as offering these items and is being investigated by the Investigative Court No. 6 of Bizkaia.
After investigators received the technical report from the National CITES administrative authority, two searches were conducted at two locations linked to the company under investigation in Bizkaia, where agents seized 54 pieces of ivory without the required documentation for sale.
In addition, 68 sculptures with ivory inlays were located, which were included in the downloadable catalog on the website. Among the intervened pieces are walking sticks with ivory handles carved in the shapes of animals, such as eagles and greyhounds, sculptures of emperors and geishas, representative figures of Japanese culture, ornate fans, vases, antique boxes, and elephant tusks with and without stands.
Also found were chryselephantine sculptures inlaid with ivory, paintings with crucifixes, antique furniture such as desks, display cases, and screens, as well as several figures of horses and dragons, also carved in ivory.
This action has prevented possible illegal export to international markets, especially in Asia.
The Civil Guard reminds us of the prohibition on the ivory trade and that both the purchase and sale, transportation, and possession of ivory for commercial purposes require an EU CITES certificate issued by the national authority.
Without this authorization, selling them constitutes a crime of trafficking in protected species, and if the value of the pieces exceeds €50,000, it could constitute a criminal offense for smuggling. EFE lca/ros
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