Tanzanian police arrest 4 Chinese with 11 rhino horns

[James.Grage]

Tanzanian police arrest 4 Chinese with 11 rhino horns

Posted: November 9, 2015

EXTRACT FROM THE FOLLOWING THIRD PARTY SOURCE:NDTV

Tanzanian police announced on 8 November 2015 that they had arrested four Chinese men after finding 11 rhino horns hidden beneath their car in one of the largest seizures in the East African country.

The four were arrested on Friday in the southwestern district of Mbeya after they crossed into Tanzania from neighbouring Malawi, a police statement said.

“An investigation is ongoing, and the suspects will soon appear in court,” it said.

African rhinos have two horns, meaning the seizure represents the death of at least six animals.

Hundreds of rhinos are massacred every year for their horn, used in East Asia for its supposed medicinal qualities.

Demand for the rhinoceros horn, which is made of keratin – also found in hair and nails – has boomed in Vietnam and China, where it is valued for its supposed medicinal properties.

The highest levels of rhino poaching takes place in South Africa, which is home to around 20,000 rhino, or 80% of the world population.

 

[Royal27]

Is it just me, or are these arrests coming with greater frequency?

 

[Wheels]

Is it just me, or are these arrests coming with greater frequency?

I think the only rhinos in Malawi are in a national park or two. Or possibly were.

This is the third significant announcement in the last couple of months coming out of Tanzania. The second where Chinese were arrested.

The SCU is getting serious. I am cautiously optimistic that Tanzania is getting serious about poaching. Have also heard that the new president has hit the ground running.

Thanks for the update James.

 

[matt85]

arresting them is one thing, keeping them in prison is another. the question is whether they (or their boss) can bribe their way out of the trouble.

-matt

 

[Wheels]

arresting them is one thing, keeping them in prison is another. the question is whether they (or their boss) can bribe their way out of the trouble.

-matt

Very true.

It will be interesting to see what truly happens. From what I am hearing in country, the SCU is powerful and serious. The three arrests in the past couple of months are some of the biggest that I recall going back years. The "Ivory Queen", "Shetani" and some of his cohorts and now these four Chinese.

I'm not saying justice as we know it will be served, just that I am cautiously optimistic that things are changing for the good.