HONG KONG, China — A record eight tons of pangolin scales found in a container from Nigeria was unveiled by Hong Kong officials Friday, underscoring the city’s central role in the booming illegal wildlife trade. ADVERTISEMENT“This is a record high in quantity for a seizure of pangolin scales,” the customs department said in a statement. Hong Kong recently increased the maximum penalties on smuggling to 10 years in jail and a HK$10 million fine. ADVERTISEMENTADM Capital Foundation, one of the groups behind last month’s report, said 21 tonnes of pangolin scales have now been seized in the last year in Hong Kong. China finally banned the ivory trade a year ago, while Hong Kong began phasing it out a few months later.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 01, 2019 08:03 UTC