(Photo by Atwine Allen / ©Diplomatic Times) Elephant at the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.
By Atwine Allen – DIPLOMATIC TIMES CORRESPONDENT
KAMPALA, UGANDA – The United States is offering rewards of up to $1 million each for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of two fugitive Kenyan nationals, Abdi Hussein Ahmed and Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh, for participating in, or conspiring to participate in, transnational organized crime. Ahmed has been charged in the United States with wildlife trafficking in violation of the Lacey Act and with conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking in violation of the Endangered Species Act and Lacey Act, according to the U.S. Department of State. Fugitives Ahmed and Saleh have also been charged in the United States with conspiracy to distribute heroin. Additionally, Ahmed is charged in Uganda and Kenya with violations of the Uganda Wildlife Act, the Kenya Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, and the Kenya East Africa Customs Act. Any information in response to the reward offer regarding Ahmed or Saleh should be directed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at +1-844-FWS-TIPS (+1-844-397-8477), Kenya Directorate of Criminal Investigations at +254(0)80072220 or by email at FWS_TIPS@fws.gov.
Elephant ivory fetches up to $250 US Dollars (900,000 Shillings) per kilogramme on Ugandan Black Market
(Photo by Atwine Allen / ©Diplomatic Times) Elephant at the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.
According to a 2017 report entitled “Deadly Profits: Illegal Wildlife Trafficking through Uganda and South Sudan”, Uganda and South Sudan have been trafficking hubs for wildlife from Congo and West Africa in recent years, where armed groups and criminal networks have profited, and some state actors have been complicit. Elephant ivory fetches up to 250 dollars or 900,000 Shillings per kilogramme on the Ugandan black market.
A guide for prosecutors and investigators including the new Uganda Wildlife Act 2020. Samples Charges and standard Operating Procedures finds that:
Wildlife in Uganda in under a serious threats of continued poaching, illegal wildlife trade and encroachment of wildlife conservation areas, these threats have to be urgently and firmly addressed and the development of wildlife crime procecution guidelines is one of the ways to curb wildlife crime.
The world has been confronted by wildlife crime for decades, but in recent years there has been a change in the scale and nature of this illicit activity. Wildlife crime has become a serious threat to the security, political stability, economy, natural resources and cultural heritage of many countries and regions. It threatens the survival of some of the world’s most charismatic, as well as many lesser known Species. Wildlife trafficking can destroy the natural resources on which national economies and livelihoods depend. It undermines conservation efforts , as well as efforts to eliminate poverty and to develop sustainable economic opportunities for rural communities.
Kenya East Africa customs efforts to combat wildlife crime include:
– Co-ordinator policies in the tourism industry and establish a framework of Cooperation in the sector that will ensure equitable distribution of benefits.
-Establish a common code of conduct for private and public tour and travel operators , standardize hotel classifications and harmonies the professional standards of agents.
– Develop a regional strategy for tourism promotion whereby individual efforts are reinforced by regional action.
-Harmonise policies on wildlife conservation.
-Exchange information
-Co-ordinate efforts in controlling and monitoring encroachment and poaching activities.
The Kenya East Africa customs act:
- ARRIVAL AND REPORT OF AIRCRAFT AND VESSELS
-procedure on arrival
-Restriction on boarding vessel before proper officer
-Master to answer questions
-Goods in transit shed etc , deemed to be in aircraft or vessel.
-Goods reported to be unloaded
- ARRIVAL OVERLAND
– Vehicles arriving overland
-Trains arriving
-Arrival overland otherwise than vehicles
- CLEARANCE BY PIPELINE
– Operator of pipeline to report
