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The most bizarre contraband items being confiscated around the world

Some bears were rather attached to these.
Some bears were rather attached to these.
Image: Reuters/China Stringer Network
By
Roberto A. Ferdman
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Rhino horns in Vietnam, elephant tusks in Africa, turtles in Thailand, and drugs and dirty money just about everywhere: these are but a few of the laundry list of illegal goods being trafficked across country borders these days.

Just this past Tuesday (August 7) Hong Kong’s customs department confiscated 1,120 ivory tusks, 13 rhino horns and five pieces of supremely valuable leopard skin, worth over $5 million dollars in total. In 2011, Thailand’s customs department confiscated endangered turtles worth a total of $33,000. Contraband artists have been caught smuggling bear claws (above) across the China-Russia border, and poachers have been turning endangered polar bears into rugs and shipping them off for years. Earlier this year, a 70-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton was even successfully smuggled into the US, before it was found, confiscated, and sent back to Mongolia.

But it isn’t the mere variety in unusual items that are being smuggled that’s baffling—the varying ways in which they are being trafficked is mind-boggling, too. Last year in Germany, dirty money was found concealed in pastries; in Australia, 293 grams of ecstasy were found hidden inside of a Mr. Potatohead doll; and US customs enforcement seized 200 donkey statues containing some 1800 pounds of marijuana back in 2009.

Successful contraband trade is a tricky business. Moving contraband items from country to country isn’t only highly illegal, it’s highly risky, too. Here are a few of the strangest flops:

Just this past Tuesday (August 7), Hong Kong’s customs department seized 1,120 ivory tusks. The seizure also included rhino horns and leopard skin, and was worth over $5 million.
Just this past Tuesday (August 7), Hong Kong’s customs department seized 1,120 ivory tusks. The seizure also included rhino horns and leopard skin, and was worth over $5 million.
Image: Reuters/Bobby Yip
Back in June, Chinese customs police caught two Russians trying to smuggle 213 bear paws across the China-Russia border.
Back in June, Chinese customs police caught two Russians trying to smuggle 213 bear paws across the China-Russia border.
Image: Reuters/China Stringer Network
In May, the US government confiscated a 70-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton from the Gobi Desert that was successfully smuggled into the US in pieces and auctioned for over $1 million.
In May, the US government confiscated a 70-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton from the Gobi Desert that was successfully smuggled into the US in pieces and auctioned for over $1 million.
Image: Reuters/Eric Thayer
In California, border officers have been seizing unusually large numbers of swim bladders of totoaba macdonald fish, which are coveted for use in Chinese soups.
In California, border officers have been seizing unusually large numbers of swim bladders of totoaba macdonald fish, which are coveted for use in Chinese soups.
Image: Reuters/Stringer
Hong Kong’s immigration department even recently unraveled a large scale human smuggling syndicate. Mainland Chinese from the Fujian province were paying over $30,000 each and using Hong Kong passports with look-alike photos to sneak off to Australia, Spain, brazil and Argentina. 15 people in total were caught, but many more are believed to have gotten away.
Hong Kong’s immigration department even recently unraveled a large scale human smuggling syndicate. Mainland Chinese from the Fujian province were paying over $30,000 each and using Hong Kong passports with look-alike photos to sneak off to Australia, Spain, brazil and Argentina. 15 people in total were caught, but many more are believed to have gotten away.
Image: Reuters/Bobby Yip
Germany’s customs department confiscated a polar bear rug, which was being smuggled into Germany from Norway. Poaching polar bears is illegal, as the breed is becoming highly endangered.
Germany’s customs department confiscated a polar bear rug, which was being smuggled into Germany from Norway. Poaching polar bears is illegal, as the breed is becoming highly endangered.
Image: Reuters/Thomas Peter
They also caught bandits trying to launder money by concealing it in pastries.
They also caught bandits trying to launder money by concealing it in pastries.
Image: Reuters/Thomas Peter
Last year, Spanish police arrested a Panamanian woman traveling from Bogota, Columbia to Barcelona for attempting to smuggle cocaine inside of her breast implants.
Last year, Spanish police arrested a Panamanian woman traveling from Bogota, Columbia to Barcelona for attempting to smuggle cocaine inside of her breast implants.
Image: Reuters/Handout
And candy eggs have been used to conceal cocaine, too. in 2010, US authorities caught someone trying to smuggle more than 14 pounds of cocaine inside of dozens of phony candy Easter eggs.
And candy eggs have been used to conceal cocaine, too. in 2010, US authorities caught someone trying to smuggle more than 14 pounds of cocaine inside of dozens of phony candy Easter eggs.
Image: Reuters/Ho New
Thailand’s customs department have had particular trouble with amphibian smuggling. Authorities confiscated seven freshwater crocodiles and over 451 turtles worth tens of thousands of dollars in 2011.
Thailand’s customs department have had particular trouble with amphibian smuggling. Authorities confiscated seven freshwater crocodiles and over 451 turtles worth tens of thousands of dollars in 2011.
Image: Reuters/Sukree Sukplang
Even spiders are being smuggled. A German national was caught shipping over a dozen tarantulas into the US through the mail in 2011. He pleaded guilty to federal smuggling charges.
Even spiders are being smuggled. A German national was caught shipping over a dozen tarantulas into the US through the mail in 2011. He pleaded guilty to federal smuggling charges.
Image: Reuters/Ho New
In 2010, antiquities smugglers were caught with two statues from the 6th century BC. The statues are now on display inside the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
In 2010, antiquities smugglers were caught with two statues from the 6th century BC. The statues are now on display inside the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
Image: Reuters/John Kolesidis
In 2009, 200 donkey-shaped cement yard statues were seized, after US immigration and customs enforcement found 1800 pounds of marijuana worth some $1.5 million hidden inside of them.
In 2009, 200 donkey-shaped cement yard statues were seized, after US immigration and customs enforcement found 1800 pounds of marijuana worth some $1.5 million hidden inside of them.
Image: Reuters/Ho New
Australian authorities intercepted a suspect express mail package bound for the Czech Republic, and found a hollowed out book with two adult and two baby southern leaf tail geckos inside, which they promptly confiscated.
Australian authorities intercepted a suspect express mail package bound for the Czech Republic, and found a hollowed out book with two adult and two baby southern leaf tail geckos inside, which they promptly confiscated.
Image: Reuters/Ho New
Australian customs officials also seized a Mr. Potatohead toy in 2007, after they discovered 293 grams of ecstasy hidden inside.
Australian customs officials also seized a Mr. Potatohead toy in 2007, after they discovered 293 grams of ecstasy hidden inside.
Image: Reuters/Ho New
A woman was even caught on a flight from Singapore to Melbourne, Australia with 51 live tropical fish hidden in a specially designed apron under her skirt. Customs officers notices a strange “flipping” noise coming from her waist, before they found the 15 plastic water-filled bags.
A woman was even caught on a flight from Singapore to Melbourne, Australia with 51 live tropical fish hidden in a specially designed apron under her skirt. Customs officers notices a strange “flipping” noise coming from her waist, before they found the 15 plastic water-filled bags.
Image: Reuters
And back in 2005, Australian customs officers seized over $50 million worth of ephedrine, a drug used to make “speed,” after they uncovered 800 statues made entirely of the drug.
And back in 2005, Australian customs officers seized over $50 million worth of ephedrine, a drug used to make “speed,” after they uncovered 800 statues made entirely of the drug.
Image: Reuters/Ho New