GNR seizure made following tax inspection of transport company
GNR police in Porto have ‘seized’ body parts of elephants valued at more than €100,000.
The feet, hides and skin of elephants were being transported in pallet crates.
Details of how police became aware of the haul have not yet been given.
According to reports, the seizure, in the municipality of Vila do Conde, was made following a tax inspection of a transport company yesterday.
In a statement, the GNR said that the seizure was carried out through the Porto Fiscal Action Detachment, in collaboration with the Nature and Environment Protection Service of its Porto Territorial Command.
In the course of the inspection, a report was drawn up which, together with the seized material, will be sent to Vila do Conde Judicial Court.
The seized elephant parts are covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to which Portugal subscribes, and which prohibits their commercialisation.
In its press release today, the GNR also calls on people to report situations involving nature and the environment (i.e the transport of exotic animals/ species/ animal body parts), using the SOS Environment and Territory Line (808 200 520).