Malaysia seizes 18 rhino horns at airport

Rhino horns worth more than $4 million have been seized at Kuala Lumpur airport after apparently being smuggled into the country from Mozambique.

Eighteen of the African Rhino Horns worth 2.91 million euro on display during a press conference in Sepang, Malaysia, 10 April 2017. Source: EPA

Malaysian authorities have seized 18 rhino horns believed to have been smuggled into the country from Mozambique.

Airport customs director Hamzah Sundang said the horns were flown from Mozambique and through Qatar before arriving at Kuala Lumpur airport last Friday.

He said the horns, which weighed 51.4kg and worth 13.6 million ringgit ($A4.1 million), were declared as art objects in a forged air bill with a fake final destination.

Hamzah said on Monday that custom officials made the seizure at the airport cargo warehouse based on a tip and that no arrests were made.

Rhino horns are believed to have medicinal properties and are in high demand in Asia.