ICA officers open Indonesian ship crew's thermal flask, find elephant ivory tusk
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers "unbottled" an Indonesian ship crew member's thermal flask at PSA Keppel Entrance Crew Office on Aug 9, and found a nearly 28cm-long elephant ivory task in it, instead of water.Revealing the smuggling attempt in a Facebook post on Thursday (Sept 10) evening, ICA said the 30-year-old Indonesian was returning home and transiting through Singapore.He was directed to undergo baggage checks and asked if he had any items to declare, to which he replied in the negative.But anomalies were found in his baggage scan and he was directed to undergo a thorough check.There, ICA's search and examination officers found an elephant ivory tusk hidden in a modified tumbler that was in his baggage.The crew member was arrested and the case referred to the National Parks Board (NParks) for further investigation.Under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, individuals convicted of offences involving illegal trade such as elephant ivory, could face a fine of up to $100,000 per specimen, imprisonment of up to six years, or both.