Rhino tusks finding way to China, Myanmar markets

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the killing of 16 rhinoceros in Assam by armed poaching gangs, has found that their tusks were smuggled out of the country to grey markets in China and Myanmar for their supposed healing properties.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the killing of 16 rhinoceros in Assam by armed poaching gangs, has found that their tusks were smuggled out of the country to grey markets in China and Myanmar for their supposed healing properties.

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The agency is likely to send judicial requests to the two countries to seek help from enforcement authorities as part of its probe, said a CBI source.

"Our preliminary investigations have found that rhino tusks, widely used in traditional medicine systems of many Asian countries including Myanmar and China for their supposed healing properties, were sent by smuggling networks to Myanmar and China to be sold at lucrative prices," added the source.

"We may send judicial requests to the two countries to seek help of their enforcement authorities, besides seeking Interpol's help," said the source.

It is believed that a rhino tusk can cure ailments ranging from fever, rheumatism and gout to snakebites, hallucination and food poisoning.