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The author:(作者)qqpublished in(发表于) 2013/11/21 1:40:16 Xiamen customs cracked down ivory smuggling case， weighs over 11 tons involving nearly 600 million
Ivory smuggling chain
Since the founding of the largest ivory smuggling case detected, an ivory coast from Africa to East Asia International ivory smuggling chain of surfaces
Correspondent/Xu Zhihui (from Xiamen, Putian)
"Put all the ivory warehouse on the ground is what? ”
"You're kidding, 11, dark to carry it out. ”
Dialogue is Xiamen customs Bureau Shishi branch of the warehouse. After eating lunch, Shishi, Xiamen customs anti-smuggling Bureau branch of several young men to start with trying to put all the ivory from the Treasury moved to the playground. An hour later, they abandoned the effort. Stacked ivory has become significant.
3,188 (above) of ivory, total weight more than 11 tons, involving nearly 600 million dollars – this is the Xiamen customs recently uncovered two cases of ivory smuggling case statistics.
Copper sands ivory
In early 2011, Xiamen customs were informed that a smuggling ring by Lions dock smuggling a large quantity of ivory from entering the country.
At first, this line of inaction, Shishi, Xiamen customs anti-smuggling Bureau branch historically has never seized a large quantity of ivory smuggling cases, and Shishi is not the traditional ivory processing and point of sale.
But some of the information seems very unusual. Information referring to the suspect named Chen Zhong, Putian, Fujian people, master of Arts and crafts in Fujian province, ivory craftsmanship, in Putian City Arts and crafts has opened a legal license of ivory products store. However, Chen Zhong's daily shelter is not in Putian, he bought two villas in Xiamen, I am resident in Xiamen.
"Shop in Putian, according to the truth that people in Putian, Xiamen, but he was resident, people and businesses are separate. "Shishi, Xiamen customs anti-smuggling Bureau Huang Chih-hsiung branch in charge of this case has produced the first question.
As the investigation progressed, more dubious one by one to emerge.
Customs investigators learned that Chen Zhong had two batches of containers you want to import, and sand is a copper mine, and the other is cashew nuts. "It's his ivory business totally unrelated. ”
In August 2011, the first container copper sand to the shore, and another container cashew hasn't arrived. Investigators took the delaying tactics. They tell Chen Zhong, you the names of the goods declaration is not accurate, need to withhold inspection. The end of August, cashew nuts to the Bank. Xiamen customs anti-smuggling Bureau deployment, in the early hours of August 31 the net.
Customs anti-smuggling police force is divided into four-pronged, namely Chen Zhong in Xiamen, two villas, ivory shops in Shanghai, ivory carving factories in Putian, Chen Zhong is well tracked him down. Investigators open a Cabinet at two cases, copper ore and cashew nuts in a heap of sand were buried 1221 tusks.
Initially, Chen Zhong serves him right, and deny. Investigators in Chen Zhong found in the mailbox of a bunch of strange figures, top 4 in English letters, the latter two are Arabic, this is not a normal container number. Through customs check and found that this is an African company shipping business sign, destinations are stone lions. A few days later, this is known as copper sand container is mounted to the Bank, as expected, the Scouts in disguise with the seizure of smuggled ivory in the wet blue leather.
But this is not the end of the case, thanks to the observant Customs Police. Their accomplices and where a crumpled car was found on a piece of paper into a ball of, it says "the ' Kenya-copper sands ' ... ... 5 line is marked. "What a confession, which was written by Chen Zhong in order to facilitate customs clearance, he didn't mind, after reading just knead into a ball and throw in the car. Investigators concluded that Chen Zhong smuggled ivory from Africa a total of 5 batches back Bank will also be available.
In October of the same year, the 4th containers arrived in Xiamen. 2 tonnes of ivory was recovered in copper sands.
Anti-smuggling police with a search warrant to enter Chen Zhong in ivory carving factories in Putian. Arts and crafts of the processing plant, located in Putian City, four shops, two floors below shows, two floors above are processing workshop. Here, and seized 31 pieces of ivory of unknown origin, skin is already open for roughing. Identified by experts, these ivory belonged to the African elephant. Chen Zhong argued that these ivory had the legal procedures, but failing to deliver the certificate file.
In the face of evidence, Chen Zhong finally broke down, in Putian, was the earliest type of ivory smuggled from Africa in the shop.
At this point, on the note callout 5 batches of smuggled ivory all rustlers total 2,154 root (), equals 7.68 tons, said 378 million Yuan. After the founding of the well documented history of ivory smuggling, the case for the maximum number of cases.
Outside contact, "Ms Zhao"
According to Chen Zhong confessions, in early 2011, he smuggled ivory from African immigration for the first time. Prior to that, he was in the name of tourism, personally to investigate the possibility of smuggled ivory in Africa.
Anti-smuggling police force by Chen Zhong's records, found an overseas phone number. International assistance to confirm this number belongs to a Taiwan woman, "Ms Zhao".
Miss Zhao, born in Taiwan, with his parents in South Africa grew up University in South Africa to study. Along with the growing number of Chinese people on the African continent, Miss Zhao advantage of using their own language, Chinese translator and guide.
Chen Zhong while traveling in Africa, is translation of Miss Zhao. All the way down, Chen Zhong ivory butts said, kept asking about black-market trading in ivory. Miss Zhao told him that in Africa, the ivory black market was active, really cheap. Chen Zhong's eyes light up, and asked whether Miss Zhao gave his organization sources. Miss Zhao replied, "smuggling of ivory in Africa is also illegal, but as long as the price is right, to as much as. ”
Eventually, Chen Zhong and Miss Zhao agreed that ivory $ 300 per kilogram. Organized by Miss Zhao sourcing, and made it look in the middle of other goods, shipped to Xiamen.
Miss Zhao, a native cooked rapidly in Kenya, Tanzania and other countries acquired a large number of underground black market ivory. From the beginning of 2011, shipped on five occasions to Xiamen.
When it was first shipped, Miss Zhao and Chen Zhong is more cautious, they decided, for the first time was "testing the water", the number should not be too large. So, Miss Zhao dozens of pieces of ivory camouflaged in the middle of slate, smooth delivery of Xiamen.
Chen Zhong was first successfully stimulate appetite and subsequent times, the number of smuggled ivory have increased to about 1 ton, up to a total of more than 2 tons.
Chen Zhong after the arrest, Xiamen customs took Miss Zhao, while being aware of Miss Zhao. After Xiamen customs anti-smuggling police arrested Chen Zhong, did not immediately open the merits, their goal is the recovery of a whole international ivory smuggling chain.
Problem is, how to Miss Zhao into the VAT?
Chen Zhong's confession, the police learned that he only saw Miss Zhao twice, two are one-way links. And after Chen Zhong lost, Miss Zhao, strike worries.
Then, Xiamen customs to Miss Zhao has created a false impression of harmony, make them guard. They are called freight company sent a letter to Africa, after the containers arrived in Xiamen, some problems have emerged, Xiamen side no one receiving, and consult with the other party can return.
Miss Zhao at the news, that they were not exposed, and swaggering. She spoke on behalf of tourism came to Viet Nam, and then to go full circle in Macau, Zhuhai Gongbei port of entry. The Gongbei Customs, Miss Zhao waited suppress smuggling arrested by the police.
There is one detail make Xiamen customs anti-smuggling police think was interesting. They ask Miss Zhao, why the first slate of disguise elephant ivory, later replaced by copper sand, such as cashew nuts, wet blue leather.
Miss Zhao said: "Shi Gui, copper sand is cheap enough, over there (Africa) buy. "She in Kenya buys a whole container of copper sand, look after pieces of ivory, left half, she is not willing to throw in this half copper sand, metaphor, another group of ivory.
"In fact, both slate and the copper ore sand, cashew nuts, wet blue leather, with Chen Zhong ivory carving business is no more, it is these disguises, anti-smuggling police question the first time. "Shishi, Xiamen customs anti-smuggling Bureau Huang Chih-hsiung told the China News weekly.
And criminals to smuggle ivory camouflaged, far more than the above.
"Were seized from the scene, disguised way strange, a layer of chocolate on the outside of the ivory or wood on the set of some overlaid with foil, carbon paper, think you can block the x-ray machine; some ivory to clay crafts; and some ivory bangles into milk cans, and so on. All useless, because of the different shape, nature and density of the material is different, in the x-ray will show a different color, image, professional inspection staff are easy to distinguish. "The General Administration of customs anti-smuggling Bureau Deputy Director Xu Wenrong said.
Terminal in Putian
Miss Zhao confessed that she is in charge of Africa Ivory prices, prices are much cheaper than to Chen Zhong, finally, ivory her access to dozens of dollars profit per kilogram, 7 tons of ivory-smuggling, illegal profits of up to $ 400,000.
Miss Zhao after their quarry, the police finally know her real name, Zhao Shuxian. The name don't even know Chen Zhong. Zhao Shuxian told police she know the legal risks of smuggling ivory, so never tell Chen Zhong said he's number.
What money is entering the Zhao Shuxian account? Chen Zhong said through underground banks. If we start from the flow of funds to the tracing, it is difficult to hold onto his head.
After the arrival of smuggled ivory Lion, a consignee is required. Chen Zhong found lion man.
According to Xiamen customs anti-smuggling police said, where a jobless, but very rich, covered floors and their own charters. During the initial investigation, anti-smuggling police for what some pains.
What a lion is responsible for customs clearance, receipt. According to police, looking for a consignee is very simple, you can import and export company for help. "You help me collect containers, bearing an official seal, $ 1000. "What the Lions the edge, and used to do the trip, according to the police investigation, he informed the Chen Zhong smuggled ivory, an accessory. In fact, its what a police monitoring and acquired the first two movements in the container.
Stone lions are not smuggled ivory's ultimate destination.
Ivory is the end of Putian, Fujian. Putian stone lions from a two-hour drive, belongs to the Fuzhou customs area. Ivory criminals in this way around the bend, hoping to avoid the sight of the police.
Putian known, is the home of Mazu, and the other is the traditional art of wood carving, ivory carving. Ivory carving in the Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Fujian four, ivory carving is in Putian, Fujian and sent representatives, is noted for its fine, Putian City Arts and crafts the size of the first, or arts and crafts "Yiwu". Ivory craft generation collaborative enterprise in Putian, still active in several national and provincial arts masters of fine arts.
Chen Zhong, is the "guru" of them.
According to police investigation, Chen Zhong in Putian City has opened a legal ivory arts and crafts shops. Chen Zhong's own ivory carving technique is known to be "excellent", shop shortage of ivory, often a work has not been completed, they are pre-ordered. Sources of raw materials in the annual quota of legal ivory in ivory, but compared with the market for heat, the quotas fall far short of demand. Chen Zhong "business as unusual", through more ivory smuggling.
According to the State Forestry Administration Yan Xun, Chief Engineer of the Division of wildlife protection and nature reserve management said the China Enterprise only 37 companies have the legal qualification of worked ivory. These companies receive an annual quota of no more than 5,000 kg of ivory, each company each year receives on average 135 kg of ivory quota.
Source of ivory quota was a few years ago, the Chinese Government for the dissemination of traditional crafts in competition on the international market to get 60 tons of ivory, 60 tons of ivory is currently the only legal source of ivory.
"The ivory smuggling case detected by customs in Xiamen, the final destination is Putian, did not reach the Putian is what we found out. "Deputy Inspector of Xiamen customs Hu Yonggang told the China News weekly. Putian has of worked ivory craftsman, but the national supply of ivory quota is far from enough to market demand, so in desperation.
Mysteries was Putian City authorities seem to ivory smuggling case at a loss. Forest in Putian City's Public Security Bureau said Xue Yanxian, unaware of ivory smuggling case related to the Putian. "The Putian has four legitimate processing plant in ivory, but they all have legal procedures, we rarely go out, do not even know the exact addresses of every factory. ”
Putian, supervisors are clearly the protection of wild animals and plants have a different view. Late last year, the State Forestry Bureau forest Public Security Bureau Steering Group made a special trip to Putian, to combat the illegal production and sale of endangered species of wild flora and fauna and product comments.
Steering Group to leave soon, forest in Putian City Public Security Bureau on suspicion of bribery case against Chen. The case is still under investigation.
Chen Zhong after the incident, his shop in Putian City Arts and crafts has been hollowed out, were also deprived of the title of master of Arts and crafts. Chen Zhong was sentenced to life, the second instance finds its major meritorious service, a determinate sentence of 15 years.
Transnational smuggling
Smashed Chen Zhong ivory smuggling case in Xiamen, involving not only as the first, but also because Zhao Shuxian turns, won a rare international ivory smuggling black market chain of full episodes.
Proceeding after the detection of the following year, Xiamen customs cracked a case of ivory smuggling again 4.2 tons of cases. The suspects a case of Liu and Zhang are in Quanzhou, Fujian province, they pooled their funds to $ 3 million, has bought more than 7 tons of ivory in Africa. Then, they purchase a lot of wood yard piles, fixed, and in the middle of wood cut out length 1 m, 2 m wide hole clip hidden ivory.
To reduce the risk of being detected, they will be "planks" shipped to Malaysia, will be transferred to China, hiding in a Lions logistics warehouse.
After the case was detected, Xiamen customs continues to dig deep and learned that the gang had two containers from the port of Lomé, Africa was destined for Malaysia. Xiamen customs Bureau immediately reported clues of customs anti-smuggling Bureau. On November 9, 2012, the Customs anti-smuggling Bureau to Malaysia was informed of clues. On December 6, two containers arrived in Malaysia's Klang was impounded, seized smuggled ivory 24 tons. This is Malaysia customs uncovered the largest-ever cases of ivory smuggling case.
Cross-border smuggling is becoming more common. July 2013, Guangdong Huangpu Customs seize 1 freight attached with hidden ivory smuggling case, seizing suspected of up to 4.2 tons of African ivory. The same line through the expanding investigation, Huangpu customs to provide intelligence, and seized smuggled ivory 2.27 tons.
International wildlife trade research organization expert Shi Jianbin, Associate Professor, Beijing Normal University told the China News weekly, cracking down on wildlife smuggling in the past, often breaking one of the cases, but can't the smuggling chain. Wildlife smuggling is often international action, including countries of origin, transit countries and consumer countries, particularly intelligence-sharing and transnational co-operation.
The beginning of 2013, China's endangered species import and export Management Office, led organized more than 20 countries have deployed "Cobra", which is the lead organization for the first time in China's joint operations across the sector, transnational and transcontinental.
China no doubt harshly cracking down on wildlife smuggling. But a harsh truth is, under pressure, domestic endangered species smuggling case render increased year by year. According to customs statistics, as of August 2013, the Customs Department to investigate the smuggling of endangered products and special criminal case 85, rose 9.6%.
These figures are each of the 40,000 African elephant died in hunters under fire. ★
(Intern Wang yan also contributed to this article)
(Edit: SN054)November 20, 2013 China News weekly(厦门海关破获象牙走私案 重量超11吨案值近6亿|象牙|象牙走私|走私_新闻资讯
象牙跨国走私链
随着建国以来最大宗象牙走私案的侦破，一条从非洲象牙海岸延伸至东亚的国际象牙走私链条浮出水面
本刊记者/徐智慧(发自厦门、莆田)
“把仓库里的象牙全部摆在地上会是什么景象？”
“你在开玩笑吧，11吨，天黑也搬不完。”
对话发生地是厦门海关缉私局石狮分局的仓库。吃过午饭后，厦门海关缉私局石狮分局的几名小伙子开始动手，试图把所有的象牙从库房搬到操场。一个小时后，他们放弃了努力。此时堆放一地的象牙已经蔚为可观。
3188根(段)象牙，总重量超过11吨，案值近6亿元——这是厦门海关近日破获的两宗象牙走私大案的统计数字。
铜矿砂中的象牙
2011年初，厦门海关接到情报，一个走私团伙将通过石狮码头走私大批象牙入境。
一开始，这条线索并未引起重视，因为厦门海关缉私局石狮分局历来从未查获过大批象牙走私的案件，而且石狮不是传统象牙的加工销售点。
但是一些相关信息又显得很不寻常。情报所指的嫌疑人名叫陈钟，福建莆田人，福建省工艺美术大师，牙雕工艺精湛，在莆田工艺美术城开有一家有合法证照的象牙制品店。然而，陈钟的日常住所不在莆田，他在厦门买了两栋别墅，本人常住厦门。
“店铺在莆田，按道理说人也应该在莆田，但他却常住厦门，人和生意是分开的。”厦门海关缉私局石狮分局负责此案的黄志雄产生了第一个疑问。
随着侦查的深入，更多疑点一一浮现。
海关侦查员了解到，陈钟有两批货柜要进口，一个是铜矿砂，另一个是腰果。“这跟他的牙雕生意风马牛不相及。”
2011年8月份，第一个货柜铜矿砂到岸，而另一个货柜腰果还没到。侦查员采取了拖延战术。他们告诉陈钟，你的货物申报品名不准确，需要暂扣查验。8月底，腰果到岸。厦门海关缉私局统一部署，于8月31日凌晨收网。
海关缉私警分为四路出击，分别是陈钟在厦门的两个别墅，上海的牙雕专卖店，莆田的牙雕加工厂，顺利地将陈钟抓获归案。侦查员打开两个案柜一看，在铜矿砂和腰果堆中，共埋藏着1221根象牙。
最初，陈钟抵死不认。侦查员在陈钟的邮箱里发现了一串奇怪的数字，前4位是英文字母，后两位是阿拉伯数字，这不是普通的货柜编号。通过海关一查，发现这是一个非洲公司发货的的商业封签号，目的地同样是石狮。几天后，这个号称装载了铜矿砂的货柜到岸，果然，侦查员在伪装用的蓝湿牛皮中起获了走私象牙。
案件到此并未结束，这要归功于细心的海关缉私警察。他们在同案犯何某的车上发现了一张揉成一团的纸条，上面写着“‘肯尼亚-铜矿砂’……等5行标记。”何某供认，这是陈钟为了方便报关写的，他没在意，看完就揉成一团扔在车上。侦查员断定，陈钟从非洲走私象牙共5批，后面还会有货到岸。
同年10月，第4个货柜到达厦门。在铜矿砂中起获了2吨走私象牙。
缉私警持搜索令进入陈钟在莆田的牙雕加工厂。这个加工厂位于莆田工艺美术城内，共四层的店铺，下面两层作展示，上面两层是加工车间。在这里，共查获了31根不明来源的象牙，已经打开表皮进行粗加工。经专家鉴定，这些象牙属于非洲象。陈钟辩称，这些象牙都有合法手续，但又拿不出有关证书文件。
在证据面前，陈钟最后供认，在莆田店铺中的象牙就是最早从非洲走私入境的一批。
至此，纸条上标注的5批走私象牙全部到案，共2154根(段)，合计7.68吨，案值3.78亿元。在建国后有据可查的象牙走私历史上，此案为数目最大的一宗。
境外联系人“赵小姐”
据陈钟供述，2011年初，他首次从非洲走私象牙入境。在此之前，他以旅游为名，亲自到非洲考察走私象牙的可能性。
缉私警通过陈钟的通讯记录，发现了一个境外电话号码。经国际协助，证实这个号码属于一个台湾籍女子“赵小姐”。
赵小姐生于台湾，随父母在南非长大，大学也在南非就读。随着华人在非洲大陆日益增多，赵小姐利用自己的语言优势，为华人担任翻译和导游。
陈钟在非洲旅游时，请的翻译就是赵小姐。一路下来，陈钟言必称象牙，不停地打听象牙的黑市行情。赵小姐告诉他，在非洲，象牙黑市很活跃，价格非常低廉。陈钟眼前一亮，问赵小姐是否能够给他组织货源。赵小姐答道，“走私象牙在非洲也是非法的，但只要价格合适，要多少有多少。”
最终，陈钟和赵小姐商定，每公斤象牙300美元。由赵小姐组织货源，并伪装在其他物品中间，发货到厦门。
赵小姐地头熟，迅速在肯尼亚、坦桑尼亚等国地下黑市收购了大批象牙。从2011年初开始，分五次发货到厦门。
首次发货时，陈钟和赵小姐都比较谨慎，他们商议，第一次是“试水”，数量不宜过大。于是，赵小姐将数十根象牙伪装在板石中间，顺利运抵厦门。
第一次的成功刺激了陈钟的胃口， 随后几次，走私象牙的数量均增加到1吨左右，最多的一次总量逾2吨。
陈钟归案后，厦门海关摸清了赵小姐情况，而赵小姐却毫不知情。厦门海关缉私警察在抓获陈钟后，没有立即公开案情，他们的目的是起获一整条国际象牙走私链条。
问题是，如何请赵小姐入瓮？
在陈钟的供述中，警方得知，他只见过赵小姐两次面，两人是单线联系。而在与陈钟失联后，赵小姐必然会心生疑虑。
于是，厦门海关给赵小姐营造了一个天下太平的假象，使其放松警惕。他们给非洲的货运公司发函称，货柜运到厦门后，出现了一点问题，厦门这边无人收货，并咨询对方能否退货。
赵小姐听到这个消息，认为自己没有暴露，于是大摇大摆地来了。她先以旅游的名义来到越南，然后又到澳门转了一圈，再从珠海的拱北口岸入境。在拱北海关，赵小姐被守候在此的缉私警察抓获。
有一个细节让厦门海关缉私警察觉得很有趣。他们问赵小姐，为什么第一次用板石伪装象牙，后来却换成铜矿砂、腰果、蓝湿牛皮等物。
赵小姐说：“因为板石贵啊，铜矿砂则便宜得很，在那边(非洲)随便买。”她在肯尼亚买了一整个货柜的铜矿砂，伪装了一批象牙后，还剩一半，她不舍得扔，就在这一半铜矿砂里伪装了另一批象牙。
“其实，无论板石还是铜矿砂、腰果、蓝湿牛皮，都跟陈钟的牙雕生意完全没有瓜葛，正是这些伪装，第一时间引起了缉私警的疑问。”厦门海关石狮缉私分局的黄志雄告诉《中国新闻周刊》。
而犯罪分子给走私象牙做的伪装，远不止上述几种。
“从现场查获的情况看，各种伪装方式千奇百怪，有的给象牙外面弄上一层巧克力或者是套上木头；有的用锡纸、复写纸包裹，以为能挡住X光机；有的将象牙塞到泥人工艺品里边；还有的将象牙手镯塞到奶粉罐里边，等等。其实都没用，因为不同物质的形状、性质、密度等都不一样，在X光下会呈现出不同的颜色、图像，专业查验人员很容易分辨。”海关总署缉私局副局长许文荣说。
终点站莆田
赵小姐供认，她在非洲收象牙的价格，比发给陈钟的价格要便宜得多，最后算下来，每公斤象牙她可获得几十美元的利润，走私7吨象牙，非法获利可达40万美元。
赵小姐到案后，警方终于知道了她的真实姓名，赵淑贤。这个名字连陈钟都不知道。赵淑贤告诉警方，她知道走私象牙的法律风险，所以始终没有跟陈钟透露自己的底细。
钱是如何进入赵淑贤的户头呢？陈钟供称，是通过地下钱庄。如果警方一开始从资金流向去追查的话，很难追究到他的头上。
走私象牙运抵石狮后，需要有一个收货人。陈钟找到了石狮人何某。
据厦门海关缉私警透露，何某无业，但很有钱，盖了几层楼，自己当包租公。在最初的侦办中，缉私警察对何某下了一番工夫。
何某在石狮负责报关、收货。据警方透露，找一个收货人很简单，可以请一些有进出口业务的公司帮忙。“你帮我收个货柜，盖个章，一千块就到手了。”何某在石狮地头熟，惯做此行，而据警方调查，他对陈钟走私象牙一事知情，系从犯。事实上，缉私警察正是在对何某的监控中，得知了最初两条货柜的动向。
石狮并非走私象牙最终的目的地。
走私象牙的终点是福建莆田。莆田距石狮两小时车程，属于福州海关辖区。走私象牙的犯罪分子用这种弯弯绕绕的方式，希望避开警方的视线。
莆田为人所熟知的，一是妈祖故乡，另一个就是传统艺术中的木雕、牙雕。在牙雕的京、沪、广、闽四派中，莆田牙雕是闽派的代表，以精细著称，莆田工艺美术城的规模国内第一，相当于工艺美术品的“义乌”。莆田牙雕工艺世代相承，至今还活跃着几位国家级和省级艺术美术大师。
陈钟，是这些“大师”中的一位。
据警方调查，陈钟在莆田工艺美术城开有一家合法的象牙制品店。陈钟本人的牙雕技艺素称“精湛”，店内的象牙工艺品供不应求，往往一件作品还未完工，就被预先订购。象牙原料来源于每年获得的合法象牙配额，但跟市场的热度相比，这个配额远远不能满足需求。于是陈钟便“另辟蹊径”，通过走私获得更多象牙。
据国家林业局野生动植物保护与自然保护区管理司总工程师严旬透露，目前中国拥有合法加工象牙资质的企业只有37家。这些企业每年获得的象牙配额不超过5000公斤，平均每家企业每年只能获得135公斤的象牙配额。
而象牙配额的来源，是中国政府几年前为传承传统工艺在国际市场上竞拍得到的60吨象牙，这60吨象牙是目前国内唯一的合法象牙来源。
“厦门海关侦破的走私象牙案，最终目的地是莆田，没有到达莆田就被我们查获了。”厦门海关副巡视员胡永刚告诉《中国新闻周刊》。莆田有加工象牙的巧匠，但国家供应的象牙配额远远不够市场需求，所以有人铤而走险。
令人不解的是，莆田市有关部门似乎对走私象牙的大案表现茫然。莆田市森林公安局薛严贤表示，不知道有走私象牙的案件跟莆田有关。“莆田有四家合法加工象牙的工厂，但他们都有合法的手续，我们很少去查，甚至不知道每一家工厂的具体地址。”
但上级主管部门显然对莆田保护野生动植物方面的工作有不同看法。去年底，国家林业局森林公安局督导组专程来到莆田，对打击违法制售濒危野生动植物及制品的工作提出意见。
督导组离开不久，莆田市森林公安局局长陈某某以涉嫌受贿罪被立案侦查。目前此案尚在调查中。
而陈钟案发后，他在莆田工艺美术城的店铺已经人去楼空，其工艺美术大师称号亦被剥夺。陈钟一审被判无期，二审认定其有重大立功表现，改判有期徒刑15年。
跨国缉私
厦门海关破获的陈钟走私象牙案，不仅案值列为国内第一，而且因为赵淑贤的归案，罕见地获得了国际象牙走私黑市链条的完整情节。
此案侦破后第二年，厦门海关再度侦破了一宗走私象牙4.2吨的案件。该案的犯罪嫌疑人柳某和张某均系福建泉州人，他们联合出资300万美元，到非洲购得了7吨多象牙。然后，他们采购了大量木板码成堆，加以固定，并在木板中间挖出长1米、宽2米的洞以夹藏象牙。
为降低被查获的风险，他们先将“木板”运至马来西亚，再转运到中国，藏匿在石狮的一个物流仓库中。
此案侦破后，厦门海关继续深挖，得知该犯罪团伙还有两个集装箱已从非洲洛美出港，正运往马来西亚。厦门海关缉私局立即将线索上报海关总署缉私局。2012年11月9日，海关总署缉私局向马来西亚通报了线索。12月6日，这两个集装箱抵达马来西亚巴生港即被扣押，查获走私象牙24吨。这是马来西亚海关有史以来查获的最大宗走私象牙案。
跨境缉私越来越普遍。2013年7月份，广东黄埔海关查获1起货运渠道夹藏走私象牙大案，现场查扣疑似非洲象牙达4.2吨。同样通过扩线侦查，黄埔海关向香港海关提供情报，又查获走私象牙2.27吨。
国际野生物贸易研究组织专家、北师大副教授石建斌告诉《中国新闻周刊》，以往打击野生动植物走私方面，常常是破得了一个案件，但破不了整个走私产业链。野生动植物走私往往是国际间行动，包括来源国、中转国、消费国，特别需要情报共享和跨国合作。
2013年初，中国濒危物种进出口管理办公室牵头，组织二十多个国家部署了“眼镜蛇行动”，这是中国首次牵头组织的跨部门、跨国、跨洲联合缉私行动。
中国打击野生动植物走私的严厉程度不容怀疑。但一个严峻的事实是，在重压之下，国内濒危物种走私案件呈现逐年增长之的态势。据海关总署统计，截至2013年8月，海关缉私部门查处的走私濒危特种及制品刑事立案85起，同比上升了9.6%。
跟这些数字对应的是，每年有4万头非洲象死在盗猎者的枪口下。 ★
(实习生王妍对本文亦有贡献)
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