Cameroon authorities arrested four ivory smugglers trying to transport nearly 120 elephant tusks through the country’s south, officials said Friday.

The group had trafficked nearly 675 kilograms (1,500 pounds) of the illicit cargo from neighbouring Gabon, which is home to more than half of Africa’s remaining forest elephants.

They hid their haul in the bottom of a van with a false compartment, state television reported.

It was the biggest ivory seizure in the West African nation for five years, customs officer Jean-Claude Ekoube told AFP.

Ivory trafficking is fueled by the robust demand for it in Asia and the Middle East, where elephant tusks are used in traditional medicine.

It is also sought-after for its ability to be used in beautifying items like combs, pendants and other exotic jewellery.

The global trade in elephant ivory, with rare exceptions, has been banned since 1989 after the population of the African animals dropped from millions in the mid-20th century to about 600,000 by the end of that decade.

Cameroon authorities arrested four ivory smugglers trying to transport nearly 120 elephant tusks through the country’s south, officials said Friday.

The group had trafficked nearly 675 kilograms (1,500 pounds) of the illicit cargo from neighbouring Gabon, which is home to more than half of Africa’s remaining forest elephants.

They hid their haul in the bottom of a van with a false compartment, state television reported.

It was the biggest ivory seizure in the West African nation for five years, customs officer Jean-Claude Ekoube told AFP.

Ivory trafficking is fueled by the robust demand for it in Asia and the Middle East, where elephant tusks are used in traditional medicine.

It is also sought-after for its ability to be used in beautifying items like combs, pendants and other exotic jewellery.

The global trade in elephant ivory,

Cameroon authorities arrested four ivory smugglers trying to transport nearly 120 elephant tusks through the country’s south, officials said Friday.

The group had trafficked nearly 675 kilograms (1,500 pounds) of the illicit cargo from neighbouring Gabon, which is home to more than half of Africa’s remaining forest elephants.

They hid their haul in the bottom of a van with a false compartment, state television reported.

It was the biggest ivory seizure in the West African nation for five years, customs officer Jean-Claude Ekoube told AFP.

Ivory trafficking is fueled by the robust demand for it in Asia and the Middle East, where elephant tusks are used in traditional medicine.

It is also sought-after for its ability to be used in beautifying items like combs, pendants and other exotic jewellery.

The global trade in elephant ivory, with rare exceptions, has been banned since 1989 after the population of the African animals dropped from millions in the mid-20th century to about 600,000 by the end of that decade.

with rare exceptions, has been banned since 1989 after the population of the African animals dropped from millions in the mid-20th century to about 600,000 by the end of that decade.