Watch An Ivory Bust In New York City

When the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Crimes Investigation Unit goes undercover, they do it in style - or at least they try to.
That’s what our crew learned when the unit allowed VICE News to tag along during an undercover mission to buy illegal ivory at an art gallery in Queens, New York.
The ivory trade in the U.S. is estimated to be a $23 billion dollar industry - and New York City is its hub. To discourage this, a 2014 law tightened restrictions by making the sale of undocumented elephant or even mammoth ivory completely illegal. The only sales allowed now are those where the dealer is selling articles that contain less than 20 percent ivory, and that have paperwork showing the items are more than 100 years old. Under any other circumstance, the sale of ivory is a crime.
The new law hasn’t stopped some dealers from trying, however - so the DEC is still conducting undercover operations. During the June mission at the Ro Gallery in Queens, DEC officers dressed as ivory-loving art connoisseurs. For Lieutenant Jesse Paluch, who headed the mission, that meant wearing a large ivory necklace and bracelet, as well as a linen shirt that he joked was designed to keep “a level of GQ.”
“There's always a level of paranoia because you know who you are, so you automatically think that these people are going to know who you are,” he said. “The best thing to do is just hide in plain sight and act normal.”
The mission was successful; Paluch and a fellow officer purchased a statue, which they later authenticated as containing ivory. One month later, with a warrant in hand, the officers returned to raid the gallery. VICE News filmed the bust as well, which led to the seizure of three additional pieces of ivory, worth a total of $36,000, according to the DEC.
The case against the owner of the art gallery is now pending pre-indictment. We spoke to the owner, Robert Rogal, during an “ivory crush” held in Central Park this past August where the DEC publicly destroyed illegal ivory agents had seized.
“A lot of the items that they're confiscating are vintage items that should go to a museum,” Rogal said. On Wednesday, he also disputed the DEC’s account of the items that were seized at his store, stating that they don’t contain ivory. He added that the statue that was purchased by the DEC officers contained less than 10 percent ivory and was over 100 years old. The case is “costing me my reputation over a ridiculous thing I wasn’t even aware of,” he said.
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[@VICENews]

UPDATE: Botswana just lifted a 5 year ban on hunting elephants, pitting ivory traders against elephant preservationists.

[@visaelites4694]

welp

[@GoldFaceFella]

Damn.

[@RalphTho]

Botswana has 1/3 of all of africans elephant population. The elephants are causing problems for their agriculture industry, (walking over crops etc.)

[@PapaTrump]

Good. Now people can legally hunt elephants and the local people can benefit from tourist paying insane amounts of money instead of the poor locals poaching the elephants and selling the ivory for nothing on the black market

[@Anonymous-zb8lv]

@@PapaTrump the money from wildlife trafficking does not go into conservation. Go into the trade and you will see where the money goes. To the corrupted politicians and the syndicates

[@nkennedyzag]

I am 100% against the ivory trade....That being said, destroying that art is wrong and does not help anything. We must address the root cause.

[@Bando-fx4mf]

Bro they crush everything in NYC lol. Look up the dirtbike and quads and motorcycles crush they did to stolen and non-registered and non-insured bikes lol. There was brand new motorbikes in that like like a thousand feet line of tlsatcked brand new motor bikes wasted and crushed by a bulldozer going over all of them in a line smh. They could have sold them outisde of the state. Donate them to a place. Look it up on here.

[@10175978]

Exactly, televise the poachers getting hucked into wood chippers in Africa, make 'em really think about what they're about to do.

[@Hi-res64]

Not only did it not help but it made it worse driving up the price of ivory only made it more lucrative to poach elephants they're literally just wasting taxpayers money destroying beautiful art killing innocent animals so stupid destroying that beautiful art is heartbreaking you know this happens not just in New York but all over the the world this was a effort by many countries to send a message I guess the price of ivory went some a couple thousand a elephant tusk up to a couple million the fact that the populations of these animals are rapidly declining is also very very sad and when all the elephants and rhinos are extinct they'll be no art to remember them by

[@eufori3006]

but, what if "ivory art" is no art at all, because its made out of an animals live... think about it. If u see it as a legit way to produce art u might be right. I dont see a dead elephant worth for art...

[@ShadowGroveGaming]

Yes exactly how is destroying something that is made from something that is already dead benefiting that dead animal, its like burning paper to stop them from cutting down more trees to make more paper.

[@ZantheonWOW]

You took down the lowest ivory dealer you could, good job, the police did absolutely nothing

[@johnham14]

SteezMcDanglez basically what I was thinking with that guy too he had the one object that they bought and it was minimal it just wasn't as minimal as they wanted

[@cali6950]

I couldn't agree more!

[@brolyrules14]

Its because they work from the lowest point to the highest. They have to start somewhere to catch the big fish. They got this guy who would give up where he got the ivory from and go from there

[@EvesterGaming]

Lets not forget he used tax payer dollars to purchase that statue

[@TheHare]

The money used in an undercover operation when buying an illegal item is confiscated during the seizure. Those taxpayer dollars are now being used again to help further carry out busts like these.

[@gasstation4931]

Destroying ivory only makes poaching more profitable 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@caroselloshow5615]

Actually it’s the exact opposite.... they already try to legally sell all the ivory from the reservoir of botswana, tanzania, namibia and south africa in 2008. They started to buy it at lower prices and resell it at higher prices. The next year the number of animals killed grew by over 50%. It’sexactly like drugs less there is less illegal market there is.

[@Dantonwonton]

same as the police going after street level drug addicts for drug busts..solves nothing

[@stephen5677]

@@caroselloshow5615 I'm sorry, what? The more legal drugs there are, the less violent crime, addiction, and basically every other statistic there is.

[@caroselloshow5615]

Stephen oh yeah because to get drugs you have to kill endangered species right? How the hell is this the same thing? AGAIN they already tried to sell the ivory legally in more than one african country and it didn’t work... how much statistics you want about that? Drugs ARE NOT like ivory at all

[@aishwaryasingh6859]

@@stephen5677 clearly imagine if ivory was from the so called drug dealer..... as grotisque the idea sounds, in reality it is far grose. Young elephants are left orphaned or worse, they are also poached for what?? Ivory. And yes destruction is necessary. This is what also is happening in India for a long time. I admit it is not a fool-proof plan but it is much better. For once if you allow these items made of ivory to be available freely in the market, it becomes impossible to find about the exact source and time when the ivory was received. And the people in Africa won't benefit much cause it's Boko Haram and other illegal groups that are using ivory as source of their income.from this income, guns and ammunition are purchased which is used against innocent humans. So clearly destroying and making it illegal both are important for both innocent humans as well as animals are dying. P.S. I give a small amount of my money to Foster an orphaned elephant baby from David Sheldrick, I request everyone who reads this message to do the same. It costs less than a fucking dress.

[@wuznab5109]

Ivory crush is stupid. Can they at least display them as pieces of art?

[@user-yc2ee5uo9v]

WuzNab Wait a second

[@caroselloshow5615]

What? They are made by amateurs artisans not by artists.....

[@deej9367]

Virtue signaling lib yards doing nothing for elephants

[@Rainkit]

Ok. And what are you going to do about the ivory that can't be displayed? What about the market that will open up for ivory carvings?

[@shashankreddy3646]

@@caroselloshow5615 the sculptures look beautiful tbh

[@dannywood2025]

This shouldn't have been posted as he wasn't charged; this is portraying the wrong image for him and his business.

[@Eroc6823]

Danny Wood he could sue for defamation

[@naui_diver9290]

He was charged

[@jordanoteruelo6952]

Jimmy world calm down big feller

[@SplendorSolis]

@@naui_diver9290 Be careful saying things like that buddy, you might get in serious trouble.

[@jarateman6427]

Reported to the FBI Jimmy. Have Fun.

[@kricket8801]

I understand what they're trying to do by crushing it, but it just makes it more valuable the less there is. It also makes it so those elephants were ultimately killed for literally no reason. Now their deaths are in vain.

[@kurtilein3]

Crushing it makes most sense because it can crush the hopes and dreams of artists and dealers trying to profit from this disgusting trade. The elephants are already being killed for literally no reason, because it looks and feels like plastic, prior to the invention of plastic the ivory was a unique material.

[@kricket8801]

kurtilein3 there was a reason, just not a good one. Destroying artwork created in a time when it wasn't so looked down upon is shitting on the past. If we destroyed art or artifacts every time a person or group of people did something damaging to the environment or animals then we would have literally nothing. I understand the idea is to discourage ivory trade and value, this practice of destroying the artwork just raises the demand for ivory since there will now be less to be had. It is simple supply and demand, and anyone can understand that.

[@skillful101]

No it literally doesn't raise demand, its people like you who raise the demand by seeing value in it.

[@kricket8801]

Khal Drogo I never once said I personally see value in it. This is the most basic business model possible. There is a demand, so someone will supply, however limited and unethical it may be, someone will do it. I think you need to understand that pointing out the obvious flaw with a new practice dome by law enforcement is not the same as siding with ivory traders and poachers.

[@kricket8801]

overgrow00 thank you, the whole point on documentary pieces like this are to raise awareness and start intelligent conversation. Its nice to know I'm not the only one seeing a problem with this.

[@Kello1231]

ivory crush... make ivory more rare... raise price... raise demand...make it more rewarding to poach elephants.... interesting strategy NYC... interesting....

[@Anonymous-zb8lv]

That ivory they crush wont affect the prices too much. The number of elephants killed affect the prices much bigger

[@tokudad]

Bingo!

[@caroselloshow5615]

Actually it’s the exact opposite.... they already try to legally sell all the ivory from the reservoir of botswana, tanzania, namibia and south africa in 2008. They started to buy it at lower prices and resell it at higher prices. The next year the number of animals killed grew by over 50%. It’sexactly like drugs less there is less illegal market there is.

[@MrThefatheroftheyear]

This is because they are not interested in eliminating the trade. They are only interested in proliferating the market to keep it profitable on both ends of the law! Hence their actions make it quite obvious, does it not?

[@majermike]

@@caroselloshow5615 I don't understand what you're saying. Can you try again?

[@Patty-P]

Damn this shit makes me feel like undercover homie is actually evil. That ending isn’t cool at all

[@ineednothin6373]

I agree. It's just .

[@internetomatic]

ACAB

[@Patty-P]

Internet Omatic I disagree.

[@WildDisease72]

If you destroy the market, you destroy the root of all evil. Money made from the Ivory trade.

[@van__933]

@@WildDisease72 no, if you destroy it, it means there is less ivory, the less there is, the rarer and mode desired it is

[@joebazooks]

i'm all for banning the trade of ivory to help the elephants, but why in god's name would they destroy all of that art. some of those carves pieces were crazy. stick 'em in a museum, where they belonged.

[@cagedtigersteve]

Yes...that makes me want to kill an elephant so I can make some art to put in a museum.

[@twilight1973able]

There is a heck of a difference between destroying art that came from an already dead elephant compared to new art created by killing one. Only an idiot believes otherwise. This was a waste of art that could have been placed in a museum. It's equivalent to burning books because the paper came from trees at one point.

[@HarbingerIV]

Yeah, destroying old art is meaningless when ISIS-police did it in Iraq, so why different in USA? Its like killing slaves instead of freeing them.

[@allmycrockpots1040]

Agreed... Reminds me of this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKS7f2Ssbd6oec0

[@higherkite]

I donno, dude had a point. Many of those ivory pieces are vintage, different times different mentality. They should be in a museum. I know if I were an elephant back in the 1920's who got my ass shot up for my tusks, Id want me to live on in a museum where people would appreciate my struggle. Instead, they just destroy it, leaving no evidence of the elephant that died. I guess we should destroy the concentration camps too? Forget history instead of keeping them open to the public?

[@cptmuska]

Stop saying put it in museums, no one wants it.

[@mister1680]

Yeah some couldve gone to other places that wouldve appreciated it. And the camps need to go. Gotta make living space for the people who are actually breathing.

[@PastaBiceps]

get ligma nerds

[@haven_lady675]

If you dont know why are you defending illegal poaching?

[@truthseekers864]

I genuinely feel for the elephants, but comparing it to concentration camps is way over the top. Anyways, destroying this was stupid.

[@watchjaredwork1487]

I actually agree with him. Destroying that history is stupid.

[@melkydew5715]

Gotta admit.. I kind of agree with the art dealer who was arrested

[@WildDisease72]

I agree with destroying Ivory from illegal trade... these millennials and their "Ivory Crush" as if its an oversugared soft drink

[@thecontentcreator5702]

Seems like a pointless and juvenile way of dealing with the problem. It's like when a parent destroys a kid's xbox to teach them a lesson. Despite the heinous nature that these artworks were derived from, the act of destroying it doesn't sound like they solved much of a problem at all. Confiscate it, put it in an exhibit, while simultaneously showcase the bloody imagery and disgusting methods these animals were poached from side by side. Humans learn through emotion, turning artworks that have already caused the damage into dust solves absolutely nothing.

[@ryanreyes3246]

The Content Creator agree with your comment

[@atticus9907]

Wait a just minute,so you’re saying that liberal politicians engage stupid,juvenile and pointless displays of righteous indignation that has more to do with ego inflation and retweets than actually solving problems..........Preposterous!!!!

[@DaviChaves89]

Actually very smart

[@luminescentlion]

it's the same liberals that like destroying statues; it doesn't belong on the street without its evil context, but at the same time destroying it is completely ridiculous. Evil belongs in museums to showcase the evil of yesterday that must not be repeated tomorrow.

[@nnahomm]

while republican politicians go out and kill elephants for fun

[@remidickinson2498]

I don't think crushing pieces of ivory will help save Elephants... It's only going to make ivory more valuable.

[@athinaarmym2238]

Remi Dickinson nope

[@Zombinejerry]

Supply and demand. Supply is decreased, demand is increased. This small group of people had some incredibly rare pieces that hundreds of other people around the world would've shelled out for. Just because a handful of collectors destroyed their collection doesn't mean they represent the majority.

[@naui_diver9290]

Possibly.

[@Fennecbutt]

Yep. The Chinese crush it for consumption anyway. It's only the Western market that wants it whole/to be carved. The Asian markets are by far Africa's/endangered species' biggest enemy.

[@pwh2998]

There is an organization (or government I can’t remember exactly) that has created a synthetic ivory that is indistinguishable from real ivory and they’ve flooded the black market with it so that the price has been driven down

[@kirikirinite6519]

The old man has a point about old art

[@WildDisease72]

I agree with destroying Ivory from illegal trade... these millennials and their "Ivory Crush" as if its an oversugared soft drink

[@YxngSteeze]

for real so sad

[@inchristnido]

*DESTROYING IVORY DOES NOT BRING BACK THE ELEPHANT*

[@1048Kane]

It releases their souls.

[@inchristnido]

Lol fucking animal soul jems

[@GarrySkipPerkins]

The key is to make the entire trade in ivory illegal so there is no place for poachers to ply their trade. Ban it all. Arrest everyone with it, and ban anyone connected to them from travelling to the West or civilized Asian countries. Once ivory is a ticket to ostracism, then people will stop buying it.

[@MeeeMeli]

@@GarrySkipPerkins yes 👏🏼

[@edwardjennings6021]

​@Trollie McG what?

[@-a13x-75]

An elephant died in order for someone to harvest its tusks. What good does destroying the ivory do. It's as if the elephant was killed for no reason now. I do not understand why government officials destroy ivory. Isn't seizing it enough? It pains me watching hundreds of tusks getting burned or art pieces like this being destroyed. It's sickening.

[@nathanmcgregor9702]

People out here getting killed but the police rather arrest 1 harmless man who sold a little statue with barely any ivory. They also had 15+ officers for backup, were they capturing bin laden or a harmless shop owner?

[@zacharysmith1284]

They were conservation officers. Different job, not every one is a beat cop.

[@charlottewalnut3118]

Nathan McGregor shoot the store owner instead

[@altstadtvlogs3324]

These aren’t cops. These are conservation officers. 2 totally different branches with their own forces. Don’t come in here acting like they’re wasting cops on bs like this instead of protecting people.

[@ericc1939]

Altstadt Vlogs they have full law enforcement power making them “cops”

[@lordcanti4199]

Altstadt Vlogs one could argue it’s a waste of tax payer money that could be used to fund more cops so indirectly it is wasting cops time but I see you already know everything so I don’t have to tell you that

[@BriarHood]

"If people are poor, why don't we print more money?" - Idiots crushing art

[@seansingh8862]

I'm a conservationist and a trained economist, and I can say with absolute certainty that destroying confiscated ivory items is utterly insane. All it does is restrict the supply of ivory on the market, which pushes up the price, which increases the incentive for poachers, traders and dealers to get in on the trade. The items should be certified and sold by auction to end consumers (with the prohibition on resale kept intact). That would take a number of buyers out of the market, thereby matching the supply reduction with a demand reduction. Am I the only one who sees this?

[@marcussteele5003]

Why are they crushing those beautiful pieces of art!? What they should be doing is officially flooding the black market with counterfeit ivory to deflate the value of ivory in general. Make the counterfeits believable and you've destroyed the value of ivory in general.

[@Caeser194]

I'm all for banning the sale of ivory but destroying art is a crime itself.Items that were made before the laws were enacted is really sad.Alot of those pieces deserved to be on display.Sad story.Even sadder one day elephants will be lost.

[@boogaloo2.017]

Phil Tiffany no they don't, besides historical pieces, all of them should be destroyed. By putting these things in a museum all they are doing is advertising the illegal trade. Additionally, this would put new business in a trade that is illegal as the museum's would be making money from these contrabands. Sure it may sound good at first, but all this leads to museum to becoming part of a problem as I can guarantee you, there will be those who use the justification of art to take part in the trade.

[@rapguy9774]

Bryjamo 1.0 destroying the ivory would make the prices for ivory go up which would make poachers more so more elephants die supply and demand

[@boogaloo2.017]

Rap Guy, the value would go up either way as the ivory is taken out of the supply the moment it is confiscated by the police

[@kaniel555]

I just watched a video of ISIS doing the same thing.

[@BBalloon]

The same thing could be said about blood diamonds. people already died for the diamonds, can't we just admire, cherish, and show it off? This "Whats done is done" thinking does nothing to stop trade and even accelerates it, Placing it in a museum IMPLY that ivory should be valued and admired, which increases demand. (In truth, Ivory is nothing more than a hard white substance, and is no more beautiful than a piece of plastic.) Why they did this: Destroying the ivory is merely a publicity stunt in order to slow the trade of ivory. To show people the ban on ivory trade is in fact being enforced. That if you were to want to collect ivory, it could be ripped away and destroyed by authorities. There are poachers that cut half an elephants face off to not shorten the tusk and leave it alive afterwards. Not everyone believes animals should be treated any more than an insect. Art is no more than craftsmanship and it should never be valued higher than human or animal suffering.

[@Furby_assassin]

Just made ivory art pieces more valuable good job. Supply and demand

[@sebastianz.g.4191]

No they didn't. That ivory is already used.

[@iHaz2Krayonz]

Someone failed their economics class lmfao

[@blackopscw7913]

Yep

[@user-tr8kr1jd2o]

Better to just not enforce the law because that way people will follow it

[@WildDisease72]

I agree with destroying Ivory from illegal trade... these millennials and their "Ivory Crush" as if its an oversugared soft drink

[@AH-pu8iu]

They belong in a museum, crushing all that art just means the elephants died for nothing smh

[@PhilTheThrill]

Now I can charge even more for my black market ivory. Thanks Guys.

[@andrewjensen8189]

Thatll turn buyers away though. The basic demand curve shows that the higher the price goes, the less people will buy that thing, so you will have the same size market with less overall ivory turnover, which is obviously good for the elephants who supply the product for the demand.

[@discoloured3492]

@@andrewjensen8189 lmao rich people get what they want, ain't no need for no demand curve.

[@andrewjensen8189]

@@discoloured3492 Lol that's exactly what a demand curve is for... As the price goes up the average wealth of people who buy it goes up as well. Simple economic principle as old as money itself.

[@tobyihli9470]

Agreed. Taking a significant amount of ivory of the market all at once in a highly visible public gathering will raise the price of ivory in a likewise significant amount, putting more pressure on the wild living sources. They should have had the existing rendered ivory quietly dropped off and later destroyed in a private setting, so as not to raise the price.

[@curanki8868]

@@andrewjensen8189 the demand curve isn't some divine law, you just can't apply it to everything, this is one of the instances wherw it just doesn't work

[@GilgameshEthics]

That cop does NOT look undercover

[@noelsoto4329]

That the point... they don’t want to look like their undercover, they want to look like regular people...

[@danbirch7785]

No the point if the officer sticks out like a sore thumb, when OP says they do not look undercover, they mean the officer in question looks blatantly like a cop

[@cxMLG]

They are normal white people given power to "fix society"

[@iandavis387]

undercover as conan o'bien

[@jan8742]

yeah he sweating buckets

[@nacki4305]

That is just like the dealer said. They are acting like the nazis did.

[@Prof.CheeseDog]

No

[@Prof.CheeseDog]

During the time of WWII, cubism, futurism, and dadaism were all the rage. Hitler, who was a failed artist, spread the word through his speeches and his propagandists that cubism, futurism, and dadaism were "garbage," and that the practices of such art were plagues upon Germany's art scene. As with many aspects, Hitler believed that Germans were the greatest race, and their products, including art, was superior in form to that which was produced by every other race. And don't take that bit of information lightly; Germans literally believed they were a godlike race with the divine purpose to cleanse the world of the lesser races and create a utopian society. Germans confiscated and sometimes destroyed all modern art they could get their hands on, while also selling their own forms of art at extremely high prices, glorifying it and making it out to be the pinnacle of human expression and whatnot. While I understand that you mean that these people are destroying art, as did the nazis, you must, MUST know that the reasons for the two groups destroying art are entirely different and actually not comparable at all. Likening these people to nazis is also wildly wrong.

[@nacki4305]

@@Prof.CheeseDog You really went all out on explaining this. And i am happy that you did. I know there is much deeper than the surface that we all hear about. But to lay it up like this, that makes me start thinking... It's crazy what you can do to people's minds when authority goes rouge like that.

[@Prof.CheeseDog]

@@nacki4305 Yes, the power of propaganda is terrifying.

[@secondsleft8924]

Hitler was not a failed artist he was self taught and had very solid potential to become an artist as stated in various articles. He spent a lot of time replicating famous art pieces and was very good at layering and shadows. The problem was the teachers of the academy saw him as an outcast, one not part of their group, as Hitler lived in the slums of Vienna and not in the well off areas. Thus they did not allow him to enroll even though he would have been a decent artist. Right after he takes up interest in politics and WW1 happens. Just saying, stop with the whole hitler was a failed artist shit. He was a better artist than 99% of us and should have gotten into that school. Would have changed history greatly.

[@MrDRUMBUM55]

ivory isn't the problem poaching is the problem. what a waste of time lmao

[@samsamuels5449]

NYS should have placed the Ivory in a Museum instead of crushing the art work.

[@AzngameFreak03]

All proceeds should go to conservation of elephants.

[@noreob4748]

A "Illegal/Seized Ivory Museum" would be fun to visit, and they could have tons of info on the illegal poaching to raise awareness and have part of the ticket proceeds go to elephant conservation. ^

[@orewanell]

I think a museum can makes a lot ivory admirers, makes them want to own ivory.

[@sammiller6876]

Agreed

[@XDTuber]

true I agree with that dealer. They should have just made something that puts all confiscated ivory into a museum. Now they are just decreasing the supply. And that art piece with bronze and ivory looked like it could be a piece of history

[@Eralen00]

I don't like ivory but I can't believe they just destroyed those pieces ... The craftsmanship and artistry of some of them was really gorgeous.

[@akarustyyy]

I mean the guy is right why destroy these beautiful old pieces when they’ve already been made.

[@ElEfectivovlogs]

Wasting tax money on something that still going to sell anything that is illegal is has a market

[@Melpheos1er]

Destroying ivory item is plain stupid. The crime is already done. It's like burning the bills stolen during a bank heist... Also this legislation is stupid. Less than 100 year old item ? WTF... It should be less than the number of year the ivory ban is in place. I totaly agree with this art dealer.

[@notsgnal]

What are they going to do with the ivory?

[@ricosuavee44]

The dude actually isn’t wrong. Maybe put that gorgeous art in a museum, and try to stop people from profiting off of ivory sales. Easier said than done, but idk. Seems wrong for those pieces to be destroyed.

[@Giggidyflanders]

I was at electric forest and one of the people I was with helped her grandmother move and left in her car was an ivory necklace and earing set, she gave each of us a piece as a souvenir. Whenever I look at it I get scared and say this is illegal but I won't ever destroy it. The texture of ivory is very slick and the natural imprint of lines is beautiful.

[@Elijah00_]

Notice the style of art and notice the people who are crushing it, alot of those pieces are probably more than 100 years old

[@VICENews]

Watch Next: We Hired An Underwater Drone Operator To Inspect Chicago's Trump Tower - bit.ly/2A1qkBK

[@dustinmacdougall2308]

you guys know your about to be sued for stealing philip solo's idea for ''worst reveiw''' like he made it trending and you guys straight up stole it... his super upset you guys did this maybe you should go talk to him and maybe offer him a ob being the host... everyone loves phil.plus you will avoide a law suit

[@grandwonder5858]

Except when they inspected Trump Tower they discovered more crimes there than the entire world put together!

[@missanna208802]

The same laws covering orchids also cover orchids. Salep. Republic of booza New York City. Please please research this. People need to know they may as well be eating rhino horn. The recipes can be made without orchids.

[@1Thatstrangeguy]

Is that where you are gonna find the Russian collusion?

[@hardleecure]

@Alexis Godin They probably pressed it into some kind of ivory blocks for use in art or something. I doubt it goes to a landfill.

[@alextari264]

That old guy was clearly the Ivory Trade Mastermind. (sarcasm)

[@piotr9175]

My guy sold a figurine give him a break. We should be going after the poachers and importers/smugglers... viciously.

[@gabeslife0601]

it's called setting an example. You send a clear message that we're not fucking around anymore regardless of where you fall on the ivory chain.

[@piotr9175]

@@gabeslife0601 have some fucking sympathy, like you never broke the law bud. A figurine ain’t bringing back any elephants

[@drmariopepper4354]

I must say I have to agree with the comment section. Not sure what good destroying vintage ivory will do. Like other comments here it will continue the killing of elephants.

[@foskeight8]

I don't get it either. All they did here was eliminate some existing (and rather beautiful) ivory art pieces, which I would think would cause an even greater demand for it (for some), and they put this man in jail for one little figurine. What a goddamn waste of time and resources.

[@imablisy]

@@foskeight8 vintage ivory art pieces look very nice, and maybe would encourage people to seek out art which is in fact not vintage, so destroying as much ivory as possible lessens the market would be the idea. Now does it lessen the demand? Unsure.

[@zacharyhenderson2902]

@@imablisy the problem is that doesn't work unless you destroy every piece of ivory in the world, and you can't do that without killing all the elephants

[@imablisy]

@@zacharyhenderson2902 polluting the market with enough fakes and artificials can do it lol, in addition to destroying real ivory

[@BrianFaure1]

One would think that by crushing the ivory they're decreasing supply, thus increasing demand (and price), thus drawing more poachers into the business seeking the increased profits. This wouldn't have as much of an impact if the ivory is already confiscated and isn't impacting market supply but still, by taking it off the market they're indirectly increasing the price.

[@kurtilein3]

No, because they are also punishing all the people that were caught with the ivory.

[@BrianFaure1]

A guy getting arrested in NYC doesn't poachers in Africa, another buyer will pop up I can guarantee that. This idea that the government can control peoples desires is inherently flawed, look into prohibition and its failed prospects. I'm not saying we should continue killing elephants and buying ivory, I'm just saying this isn't the best way to go about ending it.

[@dainaburk8204]

Only by a minuscule amount imo. Vice advertising it is probably worse.

[@johansyahputra4017]

Yeah I couldn't agree more. People think that this kind of act would send a message to the world. It's stupid. It only makes the supply smaller and the price higher.

[@DoubleGoon]

It increases the price sure, but not the demand. Increase to demand would suggest there are more potential customers than there were before. By making the buying/selling of new ivory illegal that's very unlikely. It was a rich person's vice in the first place and with the increase in price (not to mention risk) the number of potential buyers/sellers diminishes.

[@bigsabs88]

I'm all for stopping poaching, but to obliterate some truly beautiful hand- made art pieces is pretty sad.

[@FarazKhan55000]

Oh we don't like people making art with ivory so let us destroy it that way we can put the tusks back on the elephant totally works right NO don't break what's been made, just stop whats being made

[@justinc6962]

That would make to much sense

[@TheHighHorse]

So just crush the ivory? Whats the point in that?

[@jim1550]

Political theater

[@harrisonmundschutz2654]

Can’t help but see a book burning when I see ivory crushing

[@stupidtreehugger]

Yes. Although, after my girlfriend and I watched this film I told her to destroy her ivory dildo. Instead she sold it and, surprisingly, the value had gone up considerably.

[@stupidtreehugger]

Since then, during the initiation of love making, she has taken to very loudly shouting: "bang me like an elephant tusk right now!." I'm not quite sure what to make of that, nor what the neighbours think of it, but it seems to be working out fairly well, so far.

[@MrSinobi52]

I remember when they use to crushed CDs because the music in them were too explicit, lets crush ignorance next....

[@rantingguy1726]

Thanks for wearing your beret right.

[@WildDisease72]

I agree with destroying Ivory from illegal trade... these millennials and their "Ivory Crush" as if its an oversugared soft drink

[@tuliplouart]

He had a really interesting point about the destruction of vintage art. As an artist, I kind of understand where he's coming from. But I also understand that ongoing ivory trade is obviously horrible. I don't think pieces of history should be destroyed. But the modern ivory trade should.

[@houstontexas9463]

I don't understand why you'd destroy pieces that were 100+ years old! How about instead put them up for auction and give the money to homeless veterans or someone who is truly in need of help! IF anything you're driving up the prices now on ivory, this is just making it even harder to get! The art dealer is 100% correct. I'm all for saving elephants but pieces that are ALREADY sculpted don't need to be destroyed.

[@querps1043]

Because it's illegal to sell ivory. They can't auction it off. And it wouldn't increase the price of ivory any more than a drug bust in one city to the price of coke to another

[@houstontexas9463]

@@querps1043 Captain obvious, thank you.

[@querps1043]

Houston Texass you said they should sell them. Which is against the law. I stated it’s against the law because you seemed to think otherwise

[@houstontexas9463]

@@querps1043 AUCTION THEM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS. I swear people have selective reading, lol

[@houstontexas9463]

@@querps1043 Meaning it's a non-profit auction, proceeds are given to help people who risked their lives, to give you freedom and can't get back on their feet. Beautiful idea, right? Oh yeah, let's just waste beautiful ivory and destroy it, that animal meant nothing! We know the fuckin law or else they wouldn't have made this video, CAPTAIN OBVIOUS! I'm stating my idea of what should happened.

[@pandasrock987]

Im 100% against ivory but they really are crushing amazing art

[@friskydingo424]

It is amazing to kill a elephant? Asshat.

[@pandasrock987]

Did i say that? No, the art looks great and probably took an immense amount of skill to make.

[@bennyblanco5896]

This is a massive waste of time and dollars. I cant believe that in this day and time they are putting effort into this?????!!! Dont we have homeless people taking over all our cities?

[@Cbd_7ohm]

Government and police are almost useless.

[@preetamghatlia488]

In my opinion the logical step should have been to tag, mark & aithenticate all these artwork and keep a tab that no new ones are being purchased and sold

[@JD-kw6cv]

What a fucking joke they drag out an antique dealer who doesn’t know anything about illegal ivory sales when you got the Chinese all over the place dealing in massive stock piles

[@johnham14]

J D not to mention he was talking about how illegal it is and basically saying like I don't do it but if you want Ivory you're going to have to go find some black market dude

[@trentmartin7441]

But that would have been actual police work with real risks. The bar isn't that high.

[@yohl6538]

100% correct -- the chinese in flushing, queens is where the actual ivory is. this whole thing is pathetic

[@avypath]

Destroying art in any form is so tragic. That Ivory crush was hard to watch

[@Linkophere]

Michael VR regardless of the material, that's literal century+ old history being destroyed. You can stop people from owning ivory by collecting it and putting it in a museum along side videos, pictures and other things that show the bloody murder of elephants for this art. It discourages people AND get ivory off the street and where it belongs. Don't be so thick headed when just because your feelings hurt

[@kvarley87]

Michael VR I can't tell if you are trolling or not. I'm all for conservation and making the ivory trade illegal, but seeing those breathtaking works of craftsmanship being destroyed made me quite sad. I mean it's clearly art. It's history too. They should have put it all in a museum.

[@friskydingo424]

Dead elephants are not art. Asshat.

[@kvarley87]

Tony Long I think it's fucked up and wrong to kill an endangered species but im not going to delude myself into thinking some of those pieces are not forms of artistic expression. Art can exist in any medium, even ones you dont approve of.

[@godmax1]

Making art out of endangered species is tragic, destroying it is not tragic. What if I made some art out of your bones or your family members bones? Would you want that around since its 'art'?

[@MrKillingfly]

I have a question. Doesn't destroying ivory only increase the demand for it and make it even more profitable. Again resulting in more elephants being killed.

[@mreis221]

Imagine all of that ivory was actually collected, recycled, and is going to be used to make a giant ivory Trump statue?........

[@temporarymomentary]

Art gallery dealer is absolutely right! Destroying art is wrong!​ That was just stupid and makes things even worse. Art is still art even if was made of ivory.

[@DoubleGoon]

Killing something for the sake of "art" is pretty pathetic.

[@XIIIphobos]

so put it in a museum dedicated to human cruelty what they're doing is the same as burning books

[@godspi4609]

DoubleGoon one could argue that killing anything for any reason is pretty pathetic......how clean are your hands?

[@Smithy250]

Scott Harrison One is for survival and nutrition the other is for bullshit Medicines and art which is already a pointless part of our world made even more pointless by killing elephants

[@ardonis99]

destroying the art wont make the elephants tusks grow back. we have to stop poachers from killing elephants now and in the future. but why destroy sth that already exists? such a waste to prove some autismo point

[@dodgeplow]

"and turn off the closed circuit surveillance" - why would you need to hide your actions?

[@attoboi9763]

probably so whoever is watching doesnt know what the faces of all the law enforcement looks like?

[@sittinonthegodamcornerdoindope]

@@attoboi9763 why would that be an issue? That decision was most definitely suspicious

[@MitchRichard65]

So wait. Why did they need to turn off the CCTV upon entry??? Sounds shady asf lmao

[@CMDR.Gonzo.von.Richthofen]

Yeah, and they wanted him arrested and out of there so they could do what they needed to do. That whole scene was shady af.

[@kindredkate8940]

What the heck! That art was gorgeous! An elephant lost its life for that art and they just crushed it? They could’ve done so many other things...

[@ludvig9184]

Why is mammoth ivory illegal? There's not exactly anyone hunting mammoths... Is it just because the police might have a hard time seeing the difference?

[@HitByLuckk]

You can find remains of a Mammoth Tusk, or even pieces of it. Motherboard has a video on it.

[@ludvig9184]

Yeah, but they're not killing any mammoths to find those tusks, so I don't see why it's illegal.

[@abhinavadarshsood5759]

L S I don’t the legal reasoning but I think(no research done on this just my thought) to simplify the process whether a piece contains elephant or mammoth ivory. If it were legal determining whether selling one article made of ivory is a crime would become tedious. Example , A person is selling an article contains mammoth ivory worth thousands, however due to lack of scientific evidence and the articles small size the police don’t believe so, thus the article has to be tampered with to test it via DNA tests decreasing the value of the article.

[@johnmcenroe1760]

Regardless, destroying art is never good.

[@friskydingo424]

Dead elephants are not art. Shit face.

[@markusheitsch3032]

stop removing graffiti, it's art too!

[@joshuahorstmann297]

Dead elephants are art

[@totallytoastly8662]

Karachi Beef Biryani They're animals they aren't even smart enough to realize what's going on.

[@markmiranda9461]

He was right about them being in a museum. Some of those pieces are probably very old and priceless. I would rather them be confiscated out in a museum with information around them about elephant scarcity. That tusk with a city engraved was badass.

[@creeperFIN123]

The big tusk wasnt even elephan it was mammoth so dunno who they protecting extinct animals?

[@CJ-ow1cw]

How can you not tell these are under covers lmao 😭😭💀💀

[@Nickytree]

-Owns a doll made in 1919 of ivory - "FBI OPEN UP"

[@laryanstewart]

By destroying these pieces, are you not making what is left out there more valuable?

[@tr3nta345]

Lets save the world by destroying beatiful pieces of art that make no difference wether they exist or not

[@CrashCarson14]

tr3nta huh

[@Lbyt21]

stops these corrupt "artists" from getting any more famous and sends a message to them that their work will get fucked up if they keep doing it.

[@markgonsalves]

Their very existence promotes the ivory trade. Its not rocket science.

[@yachad6267]

Please help me understand whats the point of destroying the art when the elephant already is probably dead. It solves absolutely nothing. I swear common sense just isnt common.

[@medotaku9360]

4:50 But why turn off the stores CCTV surveillance?... don't want a judge to catch you doing something worse than selling a legal trinket on an open market?...

[@boldandbrashcrafts727]

Yeah that's suspicious

[@bitterherbs94]

Wait they destroy it. That is stupid. Put it in a museum. Some of that could be ancient.

[@FloridaBoyGrizz]

“Alright guys it’s go time” idk why but I laughed so hard when dude said that

[@camstickney9882]

Person:there basically a nature cop Game warden:am I a joke to you

[@alfredoalcantar8691]

Hey we have a 4:20 in progress man killing his owned weed

[@billychan2066]

Destroying ivory is fuqing retarted for multiple reasons 1) destroying skill fully crafted art 2) DESTROYING IVORY WONT BRING THOSE ELEPHANTS BACK TO LIFE, INSTEAD IT MEANS THAT THOSE ELEPHANT THAT DIED WERE KILLED FOR NO REASON IF THEIR TEETH R THEN LATER DESTROYED!!!

[@burningwater1817]

Billy Chan Yeah and destroying the ivory will make the trade more expensive so poachers will be motivated to kill more elephants for more money

[@twistedimagev2]

lol they arent teeth. more like our nails which is sorta like hair

[@backwoods2411]

They should use the money to help protect elephants instead of using the money to crush the ivory of elephants that have already been killed.

[@IgniteEditsHD]

Papi Bear some african countries do that, but with the actual elephant tusks. its clearly not the optimal way to combat poaching, but they have seen an increase in their elephant populations

[@JK50with10]

Seizing it is one thing, but to destroy it? Put it in a museum. This is no different than burning books.

[@namesurname6905]

7:20 I agree with him on this point... If these idiots *REALLY* want to save elephants, they should go to Africa and stop poachers, not arrest artists and destroy their art. Solve the problem, not the consequence!🤦‍♂️

[@jahrazzjahrazz8858]

The ivory art market is the problem tho, as long as ivory is being used and sold as art, more people will use raw ivory to make more, which is what kills elephants because people will always kill elephants if they have someone to buy the ivory. The point is not to destroy the art pieces, the point is to destroy the market and public interest in them. Shredding the ivory in itself is useless, but its about sending a message to the public..

[@iamhungey12345]

@@jahrazzjahrazz8858 And increase the price of ivory in the black market in doing so.

[@jahrazzjahrazz8858]

@@iamhungey12345 well yeah I am not sure if that strat works so well, but their plan is to destroy the whole market of it, not the ivory. If you shred all ivory, all new ivory must be illegal and anyone buying ivory art is a criminal, not an art conisseur. Like seriously there is enough other pretty materials to look at, you dont need it to be animal tusks.

[@iamhungey12345]

@@jahrazzjahrazz8858 Yeah it's well intentioned but also kind of misguided since this kind of action has a potential to backfire.

[@jahrazzjahrazz8858]

@@iamhungey12345 Yes I think everyone knows this is not an easy decision, but I think in the long term its the best. Once Ivory is not just outlawed, but also morally looked down on by the people, it can finally stop fully. We all know making something illegal alone doesnt stop it.

[@kwxj61b]

What a waste of destroying valuable arts?!? I agree that "present" ivory art is not a good practice. But destroying something that has history...bad judgement.

[@komerwest9520]

What stupidity . Crushing that did no good. Better to put in a museum so people can enjoy the art work.

[@skillful101]

"enjoy" the "art work"?! I don't see how a chopped piece of an animal is a fucking art work? and I don't see how can someone enjoy such a thing.

[@skillful101]

Not the same concept. You can plant trees, you can plant millions of trees all of the time.You cant plant elephants, and elephants are social animals and they feel pain. Books are useful and have been essential for human progress, ivory has no use but to boost the ego. Plus we are moving away from paper all the time.

[@a.y.greyson9264]

My exact thoughts! The stupidity of the so-called people in charge continues to baffle me.

[@skillful101]

yeah lets get the average Joe in charge...

[@gerhardaryawardana72]

Khal Drogo It's simple. You destroy these pieces, they're gone, only the people in the event learn anything and they usually are already well-versed in it. You confiscate, put it in museums, with all the details and the background about the ivory trade, show how much suffering it caused, put a donation box, etc. , then a lot more people will be able to learn from it and you get money to combat the trade as well. People learn with emotions, putting them in museums for special events to highlight how bad the ivory trade is helps to achieve the goal to stop the ivory trade better. Destroying it achieves way less, if not nothing.

[@josephleviness5443]

Destroying that old art is stupid and just frankly disrespects the elephant it once belonged too.. modern pieces however should be confiscated and possibly donated to some type of museum but never destroyed and never sold.

[@smack80]

This story should have been about how many police resources go into confiscating a tiny antique LEGAL statuette. It looked like less than 20% ivory to me, and they didn't do any lab tests. UP NEXT ON VICE: major DEA operation captures one legal joint that is actually tobacco

[@MaMastoast]

It's painful to see such lovely art pieces destroyed.. Atleast put em in a museum somewhere... man :/

[@billnelsonpaul2009]

MaMastoast so people can admire them and get a few pieces for their new homes.

[@bok..]

so much art in the world there will be more.

[@pansnemesis]

And crushing it helps how exactly? I'd argue it hurts your cause more.

[@superstarr310]

The city has to be in on this... crushing ivory makes the price go up. It’s all a huge ingenious business plan

[@WildDisease72]

I agree with destroying Ivory from illegal trade... these millennials and their "Ivory Crush" as if its an oversugared soft drink

[@MilkWasABadChoice17]

It really is a shame that beautiful pieces of art are being destroyed for a purpose, but at the same time the message has to be spread, artwork made out of ivory should not be accepted period.

[@CrashCarson14]

Da Monsta Jam!!! Thank you

[@juraj3315]

Crushing ivory is absurd, some of those were beautiful pieces of art and if anything you are potentially causing more harm. If they are hell bent on saving elephants. Maybe they should tax the sales and make all new ivory be ethically sourced if there is a way.

[@rurutuM]

what else are you going to do with it, let it sit in a warehouse never to be seen in public just there taking up space and cost money guarding it? they can't sell it cause that will be against the law.

[@couchgrouches7667]

You can't ethically source ivory from elephants

[@BrianFaure1]

Couch - The only way that's slightly more ethical is getting it from Mammoth remains, of which there of course isn't an unlimited amount.

[@kurtilein3]

No, crushing it is better, it does more damage to the trade.

[@kurtilein3]

The supply of mammoth ivory is gigantic, and you have to explain why you think it is only slightly more ethical.

[@Tr1Hard777]

Can the cops in NY get taught a lesson on supply and demand like wtf are they doing ...

[@markusheitsch3032]

actually you're the one who needs a class ;) lower quantity means higher price = less people are willing to pay. Hence, overall demand decreases. Take a look at a standard equilibrium analysis :P

[@freedomfighter2463]

tax dollars at work.

[@ltkxphix8895]

+Karachi Beef Biryani 😂😂😂

[@ltkxphix8895]

+Karachi Beef Biryani there is also a chance that the prices of ivory goes up and more murdering of elephants and people are still willing to pay

[@xViperzGaming]

I don’t think it was the cops call, although the same department (DEC), the police had the task of finding and destroying it on orders from the higher-ups

[@jedigamerwinston9360]

I think its disgraceful to destroy the ivory. Put it In a museum. There just increase demand and price of ivory

[@HofstraTechTalk]

Coming from the art world it seems like an insane idea to destroy art for sake of limiting ivory trade. Doesn’t this contradict the purpose of limiting the ivory trade?

[@rick_santana]

Wow, that was stupid.

[@kordian5844]

rick santana The video is 8 minutes and 34 seconds long. What’s stupid?

[@rick_santana]

Because those brain dead folks are willingly taking what they own and turning it over to the State to destroy. That's why I say it's stupid.

[@wejhvabewjty]

I believe it was already confiscated stuff. But still, it's extremely stupid to destroy it.

[@sorrym8421]

I wanted to hear the rest of what he had to say. Why tf did you cut him off?

[@Myjava2154]

This was an amazing day for ivory poachers. The value just went up again when they destroyed those pieces. Edit: Also, that artdealer was about to make a great point against the destruction of those pieces before they faded him out... can't have different opinions on television after all.

[@CrashCarson14]

Myjava2154 value doesn’t go up when they destroy the pieces. If the people who originally paid for it are willing to crush it. That shows that the people who used to buy it are not going to buy it anymore, so loss of buyers in the market

[@devanshdixit4830]

@@CrashCarson14 you know right that this would have brought so much attention that people who weren't even interested in ivory realised that it's valuable, and prolly bought it hoping for price hike.

[@CrashCarson14]

Devansh Dixit huh? There’s less value in it after this

[@theangrypainter826]

I love my D. E. P friends! Glad the department is here for us all. And a big thank you to all who works there.

[@edwardjennings6021]

Legalize mammoth ivory. That damage was already done, almost 3000 years ago.

[@PCUBED09]

It's almost sad watching them destroy that artwork. Put it in a museum and teach children about the implications of the ivory trade.

[@luismartinez7019]

Paul P comida mexicana

[@luismartinez7019]

Comida mexicana

[@owenardell420]

the ivory dealer was the realest person i've seen interviewed on vice in awhile

[@iPhoneKingx1]

Imagine taking an expensive Ivory piece to the local park to get destroyed for free without anything in return but a bullshit moral pat on the back. Thanks for raising the prices.

[@kallum6823]

So you’re going to destroy art and arrest this fellow for selling ivory art work. Grow some balls.

[@LSUFaithful7]

Leave it to NY to do something good and then turn around and do something completely batshit crazy. Like, okay I support arresting these people, but crushing the ivory really? Its history now put it in a museum or do something to preserve it now.

[@stevencshen1357]

The old guy is not wrong though, they are crushing fine arts that should be displayed in museums, that should not be destroyed like they are worthless rubbish.

[@zanejohnson6412]

How about instead of crushing the ivory it gets labeled, documented, and tagged as an item that has already been recognized by the correct officials. Then donate said items to museums and others places for display in a exhibit on the illegal ivory trade. Maybe auction these pieces off to certain places that would use them for education on the illegal trade. The use the funds from said auction towards areas helping to stop the illegal trade. This is like crushing a stolen just because it was stolen.

[@MrTristans80]

Watching all that art get destroyed was disgusting. Why not put it in a museum and use it as a way to educated about the ivory trade as well as use the money generated to help the animals that are still alive. That's like burning books to stop deforestation!