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MOMBASA, Kenya, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan authorities on Tuesday launched an investigation into ivory worth almost 10,000 U.S. dollars seized at a container freight station in the port city of Mombasa.
Officials from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) seized the two elephant tusks which were smuggled to Kenya from the United States.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)'s lead investigator, Gideon Kebati, said the ivory were sent as luggage and shipped into the country before it was discovered during inspection.
"The ivory was disguised as household goods and concealed as luggage. It had originated from New York and we are going to investigate those behind this recent smuggling of ivory," said Kebati.
A multi-agency team, with aid of sniffer dogs, was still inspecting the luggage at the container freight station company that handles cargo at Mombasa port.
Conservationists say Kenya's elephant population has dwindled by 95,000 since 1973 to 35, 000.
On April 30, Kenya torched 105 tonnes of elephant tusks in an effort to show its commitment to saving elephants. The stock burned amounts to tusks of about 6,700 elephants.
Kenyan authorities have in past seized tonnes of ivory at Mombasa port.
A team has been formed and dispatched to investigate and stop smuggling of ivory through the port of Mombasa by collecting intelligence and equipping the customs department verifying cargo. Enditem
