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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
Time: 1:21 am
Time: 1:21 am
Results for rhino poaching
1 results foundAuthor: Environemtnal Investigation Agency, Inc. (US) Title: Exposing the Hydra: The Growing Role of Vietnamese Syndicates in Ivory Trafficking Summary: Despite being the focus of numerous investigations and exposes regarding the country’s role in the international illegal wildlife trade, Vietnam continues to be a primary hub for ivory trafficking. Research and analysis by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) reveals that since 2009, 56 tonnes of ivory have been seized in Vietnam and a further 20 tonnes linked to Vietnam seized in other countries. This is equivalent to ivory sourced from approximately 11,414 elephants. Failure to take any meaningful action against identified networks and individuals has led to the present situation where international Vietnamese syndicates are operating with impunity across Africa and into Vietnam and its neighbouring countries. Illegal ivory, rhino horn and pangolins are entering Vietnam at alarming rates, accelerating further declines in already-besieged populations of elephants, rhinos and pangolins. Over the course of two years, EIA conducted an investigation into the modus operandi of some of these criminal networks. What emerged was an international landscape plagued by a significant number of organised Vietnamese syndicates. We have highlighted only a handful of individuals here, but there are many more involved and too many to include in this report. Key findings are that there are a number of major criminal syndicates operating in Mozambique and other African countries trafficking wildlife into and through Vietnam. They are loosely structured with distinct and hierarchical roles, but with flexibility within the groups to co-operate or switch affiliation. Unlike the Chinese criminal groups EIA has previously investigated, the Vietnamese are prepared to be more 'hands-on.' Sophisticated methods of concealment have been developed and deployed and specialist transporters are used to move the goods along multiple routes. Corruption is a feature all along the trade chain and most syndicates deal in a variety of contraband wildlife, often shipping mixed cargo. EIA estimates that since 2015 the ivory traffickers identified during the course of this investigation have been linked to seizures totaling 6.3 tonnes of ivory and 299kg of rhino horn, including the recent record seizure of 50 rhino horns in Malaysia in August 2018. Detailed conversations between EIA investigators and syndicate members identified in this report also reveal that between January 2016 and November 2017 there were at least 22 successful shipments of ivory from Africa, with an estimated weight of 19 tonnes and potential revenue of $14 million. Vietnam has also made repeated promises, including under the Convention on Illegal Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), to tackle ivory and rhino horn trafficking - promises that remain unfulfilled. This is not a lost cause and there are examples of where things have been turned around. Improved enforcement efforts in Tanzania since 2015, for example, have led to a significant improvement, with syndicate members cautioning against working in Tanzania. The illegal traders EIA encountered also raised concerns about working in China because of enforcement efforts there. The activities detailed in this report are serious criminal offences under the laws of Mozambique, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and some of the key countries featured. Actionable information from this investigation has been shared with the relevant enforcement authorities. Details: London, 2018. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 23, 2018 at: https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-report-exposing-the-hydra.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Vietnam URL: https://eia-international.org/reports-mm/exposingthehydra/ Shelf Number: 151605 Keywords: Elephant Poaching Environmental Crime Illicit Ivory Markets Illicit Wildlife Trade Organized Crime Rhino Poaching |