60-year-old man jailed 24 months for smuggling 7.7kg rhino horns into Hong Kong

A 60-year-old Chinese man was sentenced to 24 months in prison today for illegally importing 41 pieces of rhino horn valued at about HK$3 million, hidden in his luggage at Hong Kong International Airport.

The man arrived from Dhaka, Bangladesh, on June 29 last year.

Customs officers discovered the suspected rhino horns concealed in his baggage during inspection.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) staff confirmed the black-painted, plastic-wrapped items were genuine rhino horn fragments totaling 7.7 kilograms.

He was prosecuted by the AFCD under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586).

The District Court convicted him today and set a starting sentence of 36 months’ imprisonment, reduced by one-third for his guilty plea, resulting in the 24-month term.

Rhino horns fall under Appendix I of CITES and are strictly controlled in Hong Kong.

Unauthorized import, export, or possession of such endangered species specimens carries a maximum penalty of a HK$10 million fine and 10 years’ imprisonment, with items forfeited.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to combating wildlife trafficking. AFCD and Customs will continue close monitoring and enforcement against illegal endangered species activities.

The public can report suspected violations by calling 1823 or visiting www.cites.hk for more information on Hong Kong’s endangered species controls.