Two businessmen arrested for ivory trafficking

The two detainees own shipping companies based in the Republic of the Congo.
The shipping companies are allegedly involved in covertly moving large consignments of elephant tusks out of West Africa to Asia.
Investigations into the dealings of the two businessmen began in 2014 after 1,493 kilograms of ivory were seized by Vietnamese officers, followed by several other ivory seizures by Thai, Vietnamese, and Singaporean authorities in 2015.

In an operation led by the Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF) between July 28 and August 2, wildlife enforcement teams arrested two businessmen in the Republic of Congo believed to be involved in trafficking at least 1.5 metric tons of elephant tusks.

Four men were originally arrested, according to a statement by Freeland Foundation, a counter-trafficking organization based in Bangkok, Thailand. But two were released after questioning.

The other two detainees, who own shipping companies based in the Republic of the Congo, were denied bail and remain under police detention, the statement said. The shipping companies are allegedly involved in covertly moving large consignments of elephant tusks out of West Africa to Asia.

“I congratulate the Regional Director of LATF Bonaventure Ebayi and his team for the commitment and perseverance they have shown to ensure that these kingpins are arrested and charged,” James Isiche, Regional Director of International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)-East Africa, said in a statement.

Vietnam Customs seized 1.5 tons of elephant tusks concealed in boxes labeled "charcoal" in 2014 (left). Thai Customs seized this four-ton haul of ivory (right) disguised in a shipment of beans in 2015. Both of these ivory seizures coming into Asia were trafficked from Congo-based companies. Photos courtesy of Freeland Foundation. — Vietnam Customs seized 1.5 tons of elephant tusks concealed in boxes labeled “charcoal” in 2014 (left). Thai Customs seized this four-ton haul of ivory (right) disguised in a shipment of beans in 2015. Both of these ivory seizures coming into Asia were trafficked from Congo-based companies. Photos courtesy of Freeland Foundation.

The LATF began its investigations in 2014 after 1,493 kilograms (~3,292 pounds) of ivory were seized by Vietnamese officers, followed by several other ivory seizures by Thai, Vietnamese, and Singaporean authorities in 2015. The LATF then worked with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN), as well as Vietnamese and Thai enforcement officers, to jointly investigate the ivory trafficking cases.

Ongoing cooperation between law enforcement agencies in Africa and Asia — ARREST in Africa (Africa’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking) and ARREST in Asia (Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking) — resulted in last week’s arrests.

“Effective fighting of ivory smuggling on the African continent by bridging source, transit and destination countries, is our common responsibility,” Bonaventure Ebayi, Director of LATF, which is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, said in a statement. “No one is above the law and should face the full force of justice anytime or anywhere he was involved in a crime.”