Tibetan Antelope: Customs Seizes 69 Shahtoosh Shawls
The shawls seized in Switzerland in recent years are only the tip of the iceberg of illegal international trade.
The seizure by customs of 69 Shahtoosh shawls between December and January shows that the illegal trade in “shawls of shame” continues to flourish. Approximately 300 Tibetan antelopes died for these 69 shawls, as three to five animals must be killed to produce a single Shahtoosh shawl from this wool.
For this reason, the Tibetan antelope is endangered. Trade in shawls made from Tibetan wool is strictly prohibited.
Since 2013, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), in cooperation with the Federal Customs Administration (FCA), has been carrying out enhanced inspections. Each year, numerous shawls are seized in Switzerland as a result. In order to combat the prohibited trade and contribute to the protection of this endangered and therefore strictly protected species, international cooperation and raising awareness among potential buyers are essential.
Several major cases over the holiday season at customs
Over the holiday season, the FCA detected a total of 69 Shahtoosh shawls subject to an import ban at various locations. At Belp Airport, border guards discovered as many as 11 of the luxury shawls in a woman’s luggage, and at the border crossing at Castasegna, a woman even attempted to import 15 shawls. Officers at Geneva Airport also discovered several shawls among various travellers entering the country. All of these shawls were confiscated by the FSVO.
Information is the best prevention
The illegal importation of a shawl made of shahtoosh wool is punishable by a fine under the Federal Act on the Trade in Animals and Plants of Protected Species (BGCITES). The number of confiscated shawls illustrates the importance of continuing to carry out inspections and raising awareness among potential buyers and customers: individuals willing to spend several thousand francs on this wool — considered the most valuable, finest, and warmest in the world — must know that each shawl requires the killing of three to five Tibetan antelopes and that the purchase of these shawls is strictly prohibited.
To combat this problem effectively, international cooperation is required in terms of strategy, the exchange of expertise, and collaboration with law enforcement. This is also a prerequisite for providing effective support to the countries concerned in the areas of policing, customs, and justice.
