Cites links ivory trade with organised crime

News > Local News

Cites links ivory trade with organised crime

10 million tonnes of horn 'missing' from stockpile

Published: 7 Mar 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

More resources are needed to stem the flow of the illegal African ivory trade, the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species (Cites) says.

A visitor stops in front of a crocodile photo in an exhibition at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre yesterday. The centre is the venue for the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) which runs until March 14. Thailand has proposed the conference allow the regulated trade of Siamese and saltwater crocodiles. SOMCHAI POOMLARD

A large amount of confiscated African ivory disappears every year and the culprits are likely to be linked to organised crime, Cites said.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

Morphos
Post : 11
Send message

Discussion 6 : 09 Mar 2013 at 12.596
Post this to my Facebook
How will a Database prevent this type of corruption? The solution to the stockpile of tusks problem is easy. Do what Richard Leakey did in Kenya when he was in charge of conservation and museums. Burn the whole stock since it is of no use other than to the trade which we are trying to prevent (not control). No corrupt officials in Thailand or in Africa can then get involved with organised crime by giving them access to huge quantities of confiscated ivory. A similar situation existed in the USA in the 1970s when confiscated class a drugs were being traded by corrupt police. Huge stockpiles of illegal drugs are also regularly burned. Simple!
Like dislike 1 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
abbub
Post : 2,023
Send message

Discussion 5 : 07 Mar 2013 at 19.235
Post this to my Facebook
the headline reads:

"Organized Crime Involved".

Is that news!

Everybody knows in Thailand organized crime is involved in every aspect of Thai life where there is money to be made.

Almost everybody is on the take, and for a bribe will look the other way, furnish documents otherwise unattainable etceteras etceteras.

As I have said many times, there is nobody to control the controllers.

IMO Thailand is in a big trouble. And the normal Thai people are the ones who suffer the most.
Like dislike 6 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
mattaya
Post : 15
Send message

Discussion 4 : 07 Mar 2013 at 10.594
Post this to my Facebook
Do the math, 10,000,000 ( 10 million ) TONNES ????? that is 20,000,000,000 ( 20 billion )POUNDS of ivory. I do not know the average weight of a tusk, but for arguments sake say 200 pounds. That would be 100,000,000 ( 100 million )tusks which = 50 million elephants. Are you serious, That means that poachers have been nabbed with the tusks of as many elephants as there are people in Thailand just about. How many are not caught? What is the elephant population?
I wish BP would get an editor on staff who understands mathematics. I feel for the elephants, but these reported numbers are pathetic.
Like dislike 11 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
Renaissance
Post : 1,783
Send message

Discussion 3 : 07 Mar 2013 at 10.213
Post this to my Facebook
In my opinion, as long as there are politicians, elephants and a host of other animal and sea life are in danger. The organized crime rings could not exist without their assistance and involvement. Mankind has to find an alternative system of government one day, which does not involve politicians and political parties. "Politics and integrity" is one of the most glaringly obvious oxymorons in any language, I feel.
Like dislike 14 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
dao
Post : 4,619
Send message

Discussion 2 : 07 Mar 2013 at 09.072
Post this to my Facebook
Why is there a stockpile ? Why aren't they just destroyed so people don't steal it and sell it again ? Crocodile and tiger farms in Thailand must have huge amounts of in breeding .This is only done for profit as well to sell the meat and fur .It isn't contributing to the populations of these animals .If anything its just damaging the gene pool .
Like dislike 15 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
kena
Post : 573
Send message

Discussion 1 : 07 Mar 2013 at 07.501
Post this to my Facebook
Thailand is being dragged along like a rag doll. All the studies and initiatives are being done by farang organizations. Thais are incapable of taking any initiatives on their own in regard to safeguarding wildlife - they can't even inspect fishing boats coming from Africa.
Like dislike 30 people liked / 2 people disliked this comment

Cites links ivory trade with organised crime | Bangkok Post: news