PRECIOUS GOODS
The Precious Goods exhibition focused on the role of Customs in combating the cross-border illegal trade in protected species – both living and dead – and products made from them. Customs controls the borders of the Netherlands to prevent protected animals and plants from being smuggled into or through the Netherlands
This provocative yet informative exhibition featured a variety of seized goods, including a bear’s head with fur, tortoises, a leopard-skin rug, a stuffed pangolin and an elephant’s foot made into an umbrella stand. There were also marine products on display, including coral, seahorses and medicinal or cosmetic products containing processed parts of protected species. Many of the objects came from the so-called ‘Hell of Schiphol’, the Customs storage room for seized ‘precious goods’ at Amsterdam international airport.
Visitors could also listen to customs officers’ stories about their experiences and shocking finds in luggage, containers and parcels sent by post. And hear how people try to smuggle living reptiles and exotic birds. And learn how finding living or dead animals during an inspection affects customs officers.
Illegal trade – beastly
The illegal trade of protected animal and plant species worldwide is worth billions of euros. Every year, millions of animals are poached. Some of them are sold alive, and others are traded as souvenirs or end up as food, drink or medicine on the black market. Worldwide, ivory, pangolin scales, various sea creatures and uncertified wood are in the tragic top 5 of confiscated contraband.
Wrong souvenirs – leave them behind
The message of the exhibition was: Do not bring such products from abroad and do not order them online. If you do, you are contributing to the demand for these products and the illegal poaching behind them which threatens the survival of these animals. A ‘wrong’ souvenir is easy to buy and take with you, and products of protected animals, such as ivory bracelets and figurines, are freely for sale at many foreign destinations. But behind every beautiful piece of ivory jewellery or sculpture is the slaughter of an elephant. And a sea turtle has been killed for that beautiful shell on the wall.