South African man sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment for smuggling 34.7 kg of rhinoceros horns worth SGD 1.2 million

A South African man, recognized as Gumede Sthembiso Joel, 33, was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment on January 26 after pleading responsible to two expenses below the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act1 (“ESA”) for transiting in (*24*) with rhinoceros horns and not using a legitimate allow. This is the heaviest sentence meted out in (*24*) to date for a case involving the smuggling of wildlife components.

The man was intercepted on 4 October 2022, on the Changi Airport by the National Parks Board. The authorities physique seized 20 items of rhinoceros horns that had been being smuggled by means of the power.

Airport safety and NParks’ K9 Unit2 detected and inspected two packing containers and located 34.7 kg of rhinoceros horns, worth an estimated SGD 1,200,140.79 (USD 843,210).

The accused, who was travelling from South Africa to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic by means of (*24*), was instantly arrested and the rhinoceros horns had been seized by NParks.

During the course of investigations, NParks, with assist from Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) of the (*24*) Police Force and INTERPOL, deployed officers to South Africa for additional investigations and proof evaluation. The profitable conclusion of these investigations was the outcome of shut cooperation between NParks, CAD, South African Police Service and INTERPOL.

The multi-national joint investigations revealed that the accused was acquainted with compatriot Jaycee Israel Marvatona, whom the accused knew to be concerned within the unlawful rhinoceros horn commerce. Sometime in or earlier than September 2022, Jaycee requested the accused to transport rhinoceros horns from South Africa to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic by means of (*24*). The accused agreed to achieve this in return for flight tickets and money from Jaycee.

On the morning of 3 October 2022, the accused complied with Jaycee’s directions and proceeded to check-in the packing containers earlier than boarding the flight to (*24*).

After examination by NParks’ Centre for Wildlife Forensics, 18 items of horns had been recognized to be from 15 totally different White Rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum), whereas the remaining two items of horns had been recognized to be from one Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis). Rhinoceroses are Appendix I species protected below the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and worldwide commerce in rhinoceros horns is prohibited.

Dr Anna Wong, Acting Senior Director of Wildlife Trade, NParks, stated: “The unlawful wildlife commerce threatens the survival of endangered species, contributes to habitat destruction and harms biodiversity world wide. (*24*) is a signatory to CITES and is dedicated to worldwide efforts to fight the unlawful wildlife commerce to make sure the long-term survival of these animals. NParks adopts a multi-pronged method to implement towards the unlawful wildlife commerce. This consists of working with associate companies such because the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to conduct checks at our border checkpoints.

“To additional deter the unlawful wildlife commerce each internationally and domestically, we launched a number of amendments to the ESA, together with stiffer penalties for unlawful commerce in CITES-protected species. NParks is actively imposing these legal guidelines, finishing up surveillance at bodily marketplaces, monitoring on-line marketplaces, and taking enforcement motion. We will proceed with such efforts and urge the general public to play their half as properly by not buying wildlife components and merchandise, as demand is the important thing impetus for the unlawful wildlife commerce,” Dr Wong added.

Under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, the penalties for the possession of CITES-scheduled Appendix I species transiting by means of (*24*) and not using a legitimate CITES allow are a tremendous not exceeding SGD 50,000 for every scheduled species in transit in (*24*) (not exceeding SGD 500,000) and/or up to 2 years’ imprisonment.

The similar penalties apply to these possessing or transporting CITES-scheduled Appendix I species, together with their components and derivatives.