Hong Kong customs officers seized 794 pieces of African ivory tusks inside a container shipped to Hong Kong, the city's government said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the ivory tusks, weighing 1,898 kilograms, are worth about 13 million HK dollars (about 1.67 U.S. dollars).

Officers of the Ports and Maritime Command examined a container shipped to Hong Kong via Malaysia on Monday based on intelligence analysis. The consignment was declared as non-ferrous products for factory use.

Upon examination, customs officers found the batch of ivory tusks concealed by stones. A 66-year-old man was arrested.

Follow-up investigation is still going on.

Under the city's Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing unmanifested cargoes is liable to a maximum fine of 2 million HK dollars and imprisonment for seven years.

In addition, under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of trading endangered species for commercial purposes is liable to a maximum fine of 5 million HK dollars and imprisonment for two years. (1 U. S. dollar equals to 7.795 HK dollars)

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