I think in one instance they staged a motorbike accident which was loaded with a custom replica tusk. The "poacher/smuggler" pretended to run from the scene thus leaving unattended an item of apparent high value which was subsequently "stolen" and thus entered into the smuggling economy surreptitiously.

The investigator is understandably a big cagey about methods, etc. so as not to expose people and future investigations.

My first guess would be flipping a caught smuggler, or an undercover agent at some level. I imagine they have to use a real tusk, though I couldn't listen to it right now either.

I listened to the interview on the radio; it was two fake tusks he had carefully made, good enough to get him arrested at the airport there.

I have a fake whale tooth. I found it years ago. It has scrimshaw, and so old, I didn't get destroy it. I never told anyone because I was ashamed. I didn't know how the tooth was obtained. I assumed it was at least 200 years old.

Well I found out it's a fake, but it's a really good fake. The guy I brought it to didn't realize at first, but eventually determined it was a fake. He then said, "If they can get polymers so close to real Ivory 40 years ago--why are they still killing animals for it?"

I hope China follows through on their plan to stop the sale of Ivory, but I have a feeling we need to step up our efforts to stop this. If it was up to me, I would have these areas protected by the National Guard.(If Africa would allow us there for this specific reason?)

I hate to even bring up that Dentist, but I congratulate the companies that rufused to be accomplices in this horrid, despicable hobby? I don't know know Ted N, or crazy Alaskan woman can condone his retched behavior? In my mind, I have my hands around that dentist's neck.

http://vetpaw.org does something similar to what you're suggesting re: the National Guard.

Thanks-