A Napier man has been fined $8000 for importing illegal ivory.
Patrick Cooper has been sentenced this morning in the Napier District Court after admitting last month to five charges of trading in endangered species.
The 62-year-old bought a large carved African elephant tusk and told the supplier to lie on the customs forms to not attract attention at the border.
He was also found to have other pieces of ivory in his home, and documents showing he knew it was illegal.
His lawyer, Scott Jefferson, says Cooper is an artist, carver and collector of antique pieces - which hasn't contributed to any recent sourcing of ivory from elephants.
