Kenyan revenue officials impound ivory disguised as dry fish exports on their way to Malaysia

MOMBASA, Kenya – Officials at the Kenyan port of Mombasa say they have impounded a substantial consignment of ivory disguised as dry fish exports to Asia.

Fatma Yusuf of Kenya's revenue agency said Wednesday the ivory, whose value was yet to be determined, originated from Uganda and would have ended up in Malaysia.

Paul Udoto of the Kenya Wildlife Service said the consignment gave "a pungent smell intended to throw off sniffer dogs."

East African countries face a growing problem of poaching and the illegal trade in ivory, as the demand for ivory increases in Asia. According to CITES, the international body that monitors endangered species, the illegal ivory trade has more than doubled since 2007.