The indictment is the result of an investigation by special agents of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) in the Midwest and Northeast United States and Canadian law enforcement authorities. The indictment alleges that between October 2003 and December 2003, Siyam used the Internet, telephone and commercial shipping companies to export regulated and protected wildlife from Cameroon to the United States. During November 2002 and December 2003, Siyam, illegally shipped more than 125 pounds of raw elephant ivory from Cameroon to the United States concealed in commercial shipments labeled as African pottery and sculptures.

Canadian authorities arrested Siyam Feb. 2, 2004 near Toronto on a provisional arrest warrant. She is currently in custody in Canada awaiting extradition to the United States. No trial date has been set.

The importation and commercialization of the raw elephant ivory tusks are violations of the import/export provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The United States, Cameroon and Canada are members of CITES, which regulates worldwide trade in endangered species and prohibits the illegal trade in hides, mounts and parts of endangered species such as the Asian and African elephants. The charges include two felony violations of the Lacey Act, a federal wildlife protection law that provides stiff penalties for violations of the CITES convention.