Over 1 ton of pangolin scales seized in Istanbul

By Cuneyt Kemal Ozkok

ANKARA (AA) - Over a ton of scales from the endangered pangolin species were seized on Monday at Istanbul Airport, according to officials.

Customs officers coordinated with Turkey's Agriculture and Forestry Ministry over a suspicious package, the Trade Ministry said in a statement.

The package was found to contain 1,217 tons of scales belonging to the pangolin, also known as the scaly anteater, whose trade is prohibited under international conventions, added the statement.

The scales have an estimated worth of 8.5 million Turkish liras (nearly $1.5 million) or up to $3 million in Asian countries where some believe them to have healing qualities.

According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) figures, nearly 1 million pangolins were used in illegal trade in 2000-2016.

Pangolins are on the union’s endangered species list.

*Writing by Burak Bir