Ivory Poaching Financing Terrorism: Report

[LazyLion]

Islamic extremists Al-Shabaab receive a large amount of money through ivory and rhino horn smuggling, Beeld reported on Wednesday.

This is according to the international Environmental Investigation Agency.

"Up to 40 percent of Al Shabaab's money comes from ivory-users and buyers," the EIA said.

While the global focus centred mainly on poachers, it was ivory consumers, who used ivory for either ornamental or medicinal purposes, that financed the group.

An investigation done on behalf of the EIA in 2011 by Nir Kalron, founder of Maisha Consulting, and Andrea Crosta, executive director of the non-governmental organisation Elephant Action League, found that Al Shabaab was part of an international ivory smuggling network.

The group was also involved in the smuggling of rhino horn that enabled them to buy explosives, bullets and weapons.

The investigation brought to light the fact that Al Shabaab had earned between R2 million and R6 million per month in 2011 through illegal ivory sales.

In 2012, the estimated retail price of black market ivory was about R18,000 per kilogram.


Source : Sapa /pk/fg/jje
Date : 25 Sep 2013 08:07

 

[2026]

So our rhinos are funding terrorists!?!?!?

 

[Ninja'd]

So our rhinos are funding terrorists!?!?!?

That and illegal cigarettes and oil.

 

[LazyLion]

So our rhinos are funding terrorists!?!?!?

always suspected this possibility.
It answers the question of who the middle men are and why they are so organised and persistent.

 

[STS]

That and illegal cigarettes and oil.

And car hijackings and piracy and ....

 

[2026]

What defines a cigarette as "illegal"? Not paying tax on it?

 

[LazyLion]

What defines a cigarette as "illegal"? Not paying tax on it?

unknown brand names and shoddy manufacture also.

 

[Ninja'd]

What defines a cigarette as "illegal"? Not paying tax on it?

Essentially there are two types of illicit cigarette products: evasion of taxes on brands imported or manufactured in South Africa; or the counterfeiting of a legal brand. In South Africa the evasion of taxes is the most common one with over 60% of the illegal trade in cigarettes coming across the Zimbabwe border.

The illegal trade in cigarettes is the fastest growing tobacco category globally and locally.

It impacts significantly on the legal market globally and locally.

It has serious ramifications not only for the tobacco manufacturers but also governments, retail trade and the consumer.

The illegal trade in cigarettes fuels other criminal activities and is directly linked to organised crime

Re oil, I can't recall DreamKing's thing about Somalis and oil. Will try to find it.