GUANGZHOU, March 21 -- Police in south China's Guangdong Province have seized about 450 kilograms of smuggled ivory, it was announced Monday.

The haul is worth an estimated 18 million yuan (2.78 million U.S. dollars), according to Guangdong Public Security Department.

On March 4, border police in Zhuhai City, Guangdong, received a tipoff that contraband would be transported from Hong Kong to Zhuhai.

Police intercepted an unlicensed speed boat, which was headed toward Zhuhai from Hong Kong around 11 p.m. that night. The boat was carrying 221 pieces of ivory.

The boat crew had all fled before police arrived.

The ivory is now in the custody of the customs department and the investigation continues.

Anyone involved in the illegal ivory trade faces a maximum life sentence.