$1.3 million in illegal ivory seized from San Diego gallery

San Diego authorities have arrested a gallery owner and his employee following a sting operation in which they seized $1.3 million in illegally trafficked ivory.

City Attorney Mara W. Elliott announced the arrests Wednesday of Carlton Gallery owner Victor Hyman Cohen and salesman Sheldon Miles Kuppersmith.

The pair were arrested after fish and wildlife officers saw statues in a gallery display window that appeared to be made of ivory and inquired about making a purchase.

Elliott says investigators recovered more than 300 pieces of ivory, most from elephants but some from hippopotamus teeth.

California bans the sale of almost all ivory.

Cohen and Kuppersmith face as much as a year in jail and $40,000 in fines if convicted.

Neither could be reached for comment Friday.