Vietnamese authorities have seized almost three tonnes of illegal ivory from South Africa reportedly being transported from the country’s south to Hanoi in the north.

The state-controlled Tuoi Tre newspaper reported that the ivory was hidden in fruit cartons inside a truck.

It was seized in Thanh Hoa province, about 130 kilometres to the south of Hanoi.

The 36-year-old driver of the truck has been detained and local police are investigating the case.

Although Vietnam outlawed the ivory trade in 1992, the country remains a top consumer for black market ivory products.