Friday, May 7, 2010

Court complaint against multinational for trade in Shahtoosh shawls

Wildlife Crime Control Bureay has filed a court complaint against a Delhi-based MNC engaged in trade of handicrafts and other heritage items across the world, for attempting to export the banned Shahtoosh shawls thirteen years ago.
The Customs officials had seized at least 13 shawls from the Indira Gandhi International Airport on November 11, 1996, from the consignments booked by Cottage Industries Exposition (CIE) for UK. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) had filed a complaint here in the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Dig Vinay last week following conclusion of adjudication of a matter by Customs department.
On April 12 this year, Additional Commissioner, Customs, Delhi, passed an order against CIE imposing a fine of Rs 1 lakh for attempting to export shahtoosh, and an additional Rs 1 lakh as redemption fine.
Shahtoosh is a specific kind of shawl woven with the hair of the endangered Chiru or Tibetan Antelope. Selling or purchasing Shahtoosh was made illegal in all countries that signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in 1975.

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