Thread: Does anyone have any experience with transporting ivory?

Originally Posted by Amenrab

Yea, I was thinking about testing the waters with some polished bone scales.
If they can't see bone, they can't see ivory.

The diff between Ivory and bone is night and day.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

The diff between Ivory and bone is night and day.

There is a distinction, but what are the chances of an average customs officer being able to adequatley spot the difference?

The ivory is at least 75-80 years old, so parts of it merge from white to amber, but the bone is slightly yellowed too.

I'm not too sure how to embed on these forums.
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Originally Posted by Amenrab

But now, open borders to all EU citizens, won't deport IIs for their human rights, supporting thousands of people who can't be arsed to work (I have no issue with paying taxes to support those who truly can't work), and are overly sensitive to anything that has a possibility of being interpreted as offensive by a gay trans-sexual ukrainian who got into the country illegally. The government bends over backwards (or more likely, forwards) to allow these things to happen. All for the sake of tolerance and political correctness.

But that's a rant for another time and thread.

You could easily be describing the conditions in a number of countries some of which you may wish to immigrate to. You cab run but you can't hide. The is also the possibility that you may need to have clearance from the country you wish to immigrate to legally import ivory into that country.

Observing all the legal niceties can grueling so I imagine most simply ignore the niceties.

Bob

You know, if you are determiined.... In prison I hear the colon is used often for smuggling...

Lucky for you I'm retired now. I used to do Customs enforcement work-har har.

You would be surprised what most Customs guys can tell and not tell. It's not a Customs thing really more fish and wildlife and if they suspect anything it's shelved for future research and can sit for months until someone gets around to it.

Don't even try and get a permit for it. You will need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt it was a pre ban piece and you need paperwork for that. If you don't declare it and they find it it's history and you can be prosecuted though for a small piece like that that won't happen.

The U.S is really lax with that stuff. Some countries hold ivory verboten period old or not and if you are found with it they will lock you up and throw the key away.

Yea, you pays your money and you takes your chances when it comes to stuff like that.

Bob

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Lucky for you I'm retired now. I used to do Customs enforcement work-har har.

You would be surprised what most Customs guys can tell and not tell. It's not a Customs thing really more fish and wildlife and if they suspect anything it's shelved for future research and can sit for months until someone gets around to it.

Don't even try and get a permit for it. You will need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt it was a pre ban piece and you need paperwork for that. If you don't declare it and they find it it's history and you can be prosecuted though for a small piece like that that won't happen.

The U.S is really lax with that stuff. Some countries hold ivory verboten period old or not and if you are found with it they will lock you up and throw the key away.

The seller has the certificates to prove that they were pre-WWII.
He described them as being "a hand written paper signed both by a professional appraiser with knowledge on fress animal tissues and fossilized ones. And a customs officer who accepted the paper as valid for near future shipping."
Is this the sort of thing I would need?
Also, the ivory is quite yellow now, so it looks antique.

What would your recommendation be?

Originally Posted by Amenrab

The seller has the certificates to prove that they were pre-WWII.
He described them as being "a hand written paper signed both by a professional appraiser with knowledge on fress animal tissues and fossilized ones. And a customs officer who accepted the paper as valid for near future shipping."
Is this the sort of thing I would need?
Also, the ivory is quite yellow now, so it looks antique.

What would your recommendation be?

Why don't you just follow the link that Lemur gave you to the CITES website and get a telephone number and talk to a real person who knows his job?

I have done that on a number of occasions and found the UK office very helpful. It's what they are there for.

Regards,
Neil
(Imperialist intolerant thug who wants to bring back hanging and extreme chavinism and force women to give up the vote and not worry their pretty little heads, but with a soft side)

Put it in a razor roll with the rest of your blades,than put it in checked baggage,all will be fine.

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Why don't you just follow the link that Lemur gave you to the CITES website and get a telephone number and talk to a real person who knows his job?

I have done that on a number of occasions and found the UK office very helpful. It's what they are there for.

Regards,
Neil

In a similar vein, I once carried a piece of whale bone from Tonga to New Zealand. Whale bone is a prohibited
item, but I did declare it and I did have a letter of permission from Tongan authorities.

Upon arrival at the Auckland airport, it was confiscated by NZ Customs. I was questioned about it's origin, but
I was not cited for a violation. I was advised to contact a particular customs officer the following day to explain
the situation, and perhaps "something could be done."

The bone was destined for a medical school professor, who taught a class in Maori medicine. After a day or two,
customs released the bone to him, and that was that.

I think that if you play it straight, there's a good chance that you will have no difficulty. The problems arise
when you are caught trying to conceal something from Customs.

Good luck.