Elephant DNA Helps Authorities Arrest Two for International Ivory Trafficking

(Redmond, WA) -- Two men are behind bars in Seattle after DNA evidence helped authorities in the U.S. and Democratic Republic of Congo make a multimillion dollar trafficking bust. They're accused of smuggling three packages containing about 50 pounds of elephant ivory to the U.S. last year, and more than a ton of illegal elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn and pangolin scales were seized in a bust last week in the Congo. The suspects were indicted for conspiracy, money laundering, smuggling and Lacey Act violations for trafficking the goods.

The total cost of the goods seized is roughly $3.5 million.