Indian smuggling Shahtoosh shawls caught in Switzerland
An Indian man in illegal possession of Shahtoosh shawls made from the wool of wild Tibetan antelopes was apprehended by border guards in Basel.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/ac
Swiss border guards seized five Shahtoosh wool shawls during a routine check on a train in Basel. The smuggler, a 53-year-old Indian citizen, had 122 shawls in his suitcase, including five made from the wool of the Tibetan antelope. International trade in the species is strictly prohibited and the animal has the same protected status as tigers or rhinos.
The smuggler was on a train heading to Domodossola in Italy, the Federal Customs Administration said on Friday. He was illegally staying in Switzerland and can expect to pay a five-digit fine.
Tibetan antelope wool is considered to be the most precious, warmest and softest in the world. Traders often show off their fine properties by passing the shawl though a ring. The wool is obtained from animals living in the wild on the Tibetan plateau. The antelopes are killed by poachers as they cannot be domesticated for shearing. To produce a single shawl, two to five Tibetan antelopes must be killed. A single Shahtoosh shawl can fetch up to CHF20,000 ($20,170).
In 2015, a record of 72 Shahtoosh shawls were seized by the Swiss authorities. Last year, the number dropped to 34 largely due to decrease in inspections due to staff shortages and fewer shawls confiscated on average per seizure.
Popular Stories
More
Workplace Switzerland
Meet the foreigners who make up a quarter of the Swiss population
What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
Switzerland edges closer to stricter screening of foreign investments
This content was published on
Foreign investors are set to face greater scrutiny in Switzerland as one parliamentary chamber passes the so-called Lex China bill.
Increase in animal testing in Switzerland last year
This content was published on
Almost 600,000 animals were used in animal experiments in Switzerland in 2023 - an increase of 1.6% compared to the previous year.
Beleaguered Swiss watch industry calls for political support
This content was published on
The Swiss watch industry is going through difficult times as global demand declines and the strong franc piles on the pressure.
This content was published on
Hollywood star Pamela Anderson will be honoured at the Zurich Film Festival for her career and role in the film The Last Showgirl.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Europe offers last line of defence for the Asiatic lion
This content was published on
The endangered Asiatic lion is threatened by a contagious virus in India. In a worst-case scenario can captive animals in Europe help?
This content was published on
A foundation to improve how animals are treated under the law says there is precedent to support a Swiss legal ban on imports of all fur products.
This content was published on
Customs officials at Zurich Airport have seized 262kg of ivory – a record haul – sent by three Chinese men from Dar es Salam, Tanzania.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.