Largest ivory haul from DR Congo seized in Singapore

<p>Singapore announced on Tuesday that it had made a record seizure of 8.8 tonnes of elephant ivory. </p> <p>According to conservation groups, the city-state has become a transit point for illegal wildlife trade.</p> <p>Elephant ivory, estimated at $12.9 million, came from 300 African elephants in the Democratic Republic of Congo and headed to Vietnam.</p> <p>The seizure of ivory reached just under 9.1 tonnes in Vietnam in March, according to the Environmental Investigation Agency, an <span class="caps">NGO</span>.</p> <p>Singapore is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(<span class="caps">CITES</span>). </p> <p>The Asian nation also declares its solidarity with global efforts to combat illegal trade in wildlife.</p> <p>It could be recalled that Singaporean authorities also made the third major seizure of 11.9 tonnes of pangolin scales, worth approximately $35.7 million this year.</p> <p><strong>Reuters</strong></p>