Malaysia destroys 9.5 tonne hoard of ivory

Authorities hope the country's first ivory destruction will help deter smugglers who use the country as a key transit point

Malaysia has destroyed 9.5 tonnes of elephant ivory that it had seized over the years, in a move authorities hope will help deter smugglers who have long used the country as a trans-shipment point.

The huge pile of African elephant tusks, estimated to be worth $20m (14m), was first fed into in an industrial crusher to be pulverised, and then incinerated in a giant furnace in Port Dickson in southern Malaysia on Thursday.