Whale ivory trafficking

A Maui businessman has been charged with trafficking ivory from the
endangered white sperm whale. Howard Konrad is the first to be charged in Hawaii as part of a year-long investigation.

He owns and operates two Lahaina stores that sell ivory. He was charged Wednesday with receiving 31 pounds of ivory teeth and 57 individual ivory teeth in four separate incidents dating back to August 2003.

The misdemeanor charges are punishable by up to a year in prison and $100,000 dollars in fines.

source: Associated Press
photo (c) Dr Bruce Watkins