“Rhino Poaching: A new Form of Organised Crime” 20 March 2013

Prof: Moses Montesh Department of Police Practice

Please take note………………

This research project was funded by the College of Law Research and Innovation Committee (CRIC). Field work was conducted in Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane Provinces in Mozambique as well as the Kruger National Park

PRESENTATION LAYOUT

◈ INTRODUCTION ◈ DEFINITION ◈ METHODOLOGY ◈ BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY ◈ THE EXTENT OF RHINO POACHING IN RSA ◈ THE LINK BETWEEN RHINO POACHING AND ORGANISED CRIME ◈ RHINO HORN CONSUMERS ◈ SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS ◈ ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES ◈ RECOMMENDATIONS ◈ CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

The recent increase in rhino poaching in South Africa is largely due to heightened demand for rhino horn, which has long been prized as an ingredient in traditional Asian medicine although this has been denied recently by both China and Vietnam. Since 2000, the number of rhino poaching incidents has been increasing. Although a number of efforts and strategies have been implemented by the South African government, the problem is far from over.

DEFINITION

Methodology

A qualitative approach was followed in this project. Although literature study formed the basis of this study, unstructured as well as focus groups interviews were conducted with the representatives of the following institutions: Members of the Mozambican Police; Mozambican Game Rangers; Representatives from Mozambique Ministry of Home Affairs; Community members from (from Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane provinces) in Mozambique; Representatives from South African Department of Environmental Affairs; Representatives from Commercial Crimes Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority; Game Rangers stationed at Kruger National Park; Task team members from the South African Police Service stationed at Kruger National Park; Task Team members from the South African National Defence Force stationed at Kruger National Park

WARNING!!!!

This presentation contain images which might not be suitable to sensitive viewers.

Please accept my apology!!!!!

Image placehoder

Believe in yourself … and surprise others

The recent increase in rhino

poaching in South Africa is

largely due to heightened

demand for rhino horn,

which has long been prized

as an ingredient in

traditional Asian medicine

although this has been

denied recently by both

China and Vietnam.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

sdi

Background of the study (Cont….)

1948:The United Nations recognised the struggle of the South African people, calling for the establishment of a democratic state with full civil and political rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also condemned the "racist regime" in South Africa for its repression against opponents of apartheid, killing demonstrators, holding of political prisoners and defiance of Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.

UN Resolutions adopted: (sanctions/arms embargo

Resolution 418: 1977

Resolution 421: 1977

Resolution 473: 1980

Resolution 591, adopted unanimously on 28 November 1986.

The embargo was lifted by Resolution 919 following democratic elections in 1994.

Background of the study (Cont…)

◊ Internal conflict ◊ The Namibian war ◊ The Angolan war ◊ The Mozambican war ◊ The Zimbabwean war

As a result of arms embargo as well as South Africa’s involvement in external affairs - South Africa did not have enough resources to fight all these wars. One way or the other, South Africa was forced to turn to other sources/methods in order to finance the war.

Background (Cont…)

Background (Cont…)

Background (Cont…)

By the time Dr Jonas Savimbi died in 2002, it was estimated that he had accumulated between $500 - $800 Millions from blood diamonds. This money was largely paid by De Beers mining corporation

Background (Cont…)

Background (Cont…)

By late 1980’, information started to trickle out that the SADF was involved in the slaughtering of about 100 000 elephants to sponsor war in Mozambique, Angola and Namibia. The tusks and Rhinos horns were transported from South Africa to Namibia, Angola, Burundi, and Zaire (DRC) enroute to Europe

Background (Cont…)

1976 -1980: Frama Inter –Trading Company was established by the SADF as a front company operated by Maia based in Rundu (Namibia) and Lopes “Lobbs” who was based in Johannesburg. This was trucking business transporting “timber” but in fact they were transporting elephant tusks and rhino horns”

1988: Colonel Jan Breytenbach blew a whistle which led to the establishment of the “Roos Inquiry” by the SADF. Surprisingly, the Inquiry made the findings: ““there was no evidence to prove that the defence force was responsible for or involved in the killing of elephants. However, small quantities of ivory captured by UNITA from poachers and others in Angola were transported by the Defence Force on behalf of UNITA over an 18-month period from mid-1978 to the end of 1979”.

Background (Cont…)

1994: Justice M E Kumleben was appointed in terms of Regulation Gazette No. 5408, 7 October 1994 to inquire into, consider and report on- (a) the alleged smuggling of ivory and rhino horn, particularly of Angolan and Mozambican origin, to and through South Africa over the past ten years; (b) the involvement of South African citizens in such smuggling activities; (c) the illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn of South African origin; to make recommendations regarding steps to be taken to prevent such irregularities.

The Commission found substantial proof of SADF involvement in the ivory trade through a front company, Frama Inter-Trading, which was later supposedly privatised. The commission heard how the SADF had provided covert vehicles to transport ivory and rhino horns from the Angolan border to a Veterinary Services quarantine station at Rundu in Namibia.

The Kumleben report

THE EXTENT OF POACHING IN SA

Rhinos killed so far For 3 decades as successive waves of rhino carnage struck other rhino range States across Africa, for the most part, South Africa, together with Namibia and Zimbabwe, remained unaffected. Following independence in 1980, the situation changed in Zimbabwe and serious rhino poaching, especially in the Zambezi Valley, progressively threatened the country’s rhinos. Around 2000, the Viet Namese invasion began…..

Statistics ◊ 2010: 333 ◊ 2011: 448 ◊ 2012: 668 ◊ 2013: 146

Arrests ◈ 2013: 26 ◈ 2012:73 ◈ 2011: 82 ◈ 2010: 67

Methods of rhino poaching (Modus Operandi

Modus operandi …

Methods of rhino poaching (Cont…)

Other forms of poaching methods:

Snares Box traps Pit falls/traps Trap nets Poison Darting

Methods of rhino poaching (Cont…)

Methods of poaching

THE LINK BETWEEN RHINO POACHING AND ORGANISED CRIME

• The criminal syndicates (local & international)

• The involvement of National & Provincial Conservation officials

• The involvement of wildlife industry officials

• National middleman dealers • Illegal export of rhino horn • The value of rhino horn

Level5

International Consumer/Buyer

Level 4

International

Couriers/ Buyers/Exporter

Level 3

National

Couriers/Buyers/Exporters

Level 2

Local

Poaching groups/Couriers and Buyers

LEVEL 1

Protected Area/Private Land

Poaching Individuals and Groups

The role of Mozambicans in rhino poaching

The role of Mozambicans in rhino poaching (Cont…)

1975: Civil war begin 1992: Peace deal;

Demobilization of ex-combatants

1994: First Multi Party Elections; Poverty is still a problem

Unaccounted of weapons Militias Bush vs bush Poaching = hunting

RHINO HORN CONSUMERS (VIET NAM)

◊ Terminally ill patients (Cancer patients)

◊ Habitual users (Middle age men – detoxifying beverage –very obsessive)

◊ Protective young (mothers (Affluent young mothers – cure fever in children)

◊ Elite gift givers (high value, status conferring gift, used for corruption)

Myth: Rhino horn is classified as a “heat-clearing”; powerful aphrodisiac drug with detoxifying properties. It is also regarded as a drug that can cure cancer, alcohol hangover. It is part and parcel of Viet culture.

SOUTH AFRICA’S RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS

Established a National Strategy for the Safety and Security of Rhinoceros Populations and Horn Stocks in South Africa designed to combat the increasing poaching threat.

Established an Integrated Information System

Signed an MoU with Viet Nam government

National Wildlife Crime Reaction Unit (DEA)

SAPS (DPCI) National Joints Committee National and provincial nature

conservation officials Deploy members of the South African

National Defence Force at the KNP Beef up security at ports of entry and

exit (scanners at airports) Established a SADC Rhino Management

Group National Prosecuting Authority Rhino and Elephant Security

Group/INTERPOL Environmental Crime Working Group

South Africa’s response….

Legislative framework National Parks Act 56 of 1976.

Animal Protection Act 71 of 1962.

The Game Theft Act 101 of 1991.

NEMA: Protected Areas Act 57 of

2003. (National Environmental

Management Act)

NEMA: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004.

POCA Act 121 of 1998

Challenges No piece of legislation

specifically deal with poaching.

Poaching or rhino poaching is handled in a very scattered fashion.

Current legislation is difficult to enforce .

RECOMMENDATIONS

Legalize commercial trade

Reduce black market Use stockpiles Dehorned horns Demands for rhino horns

will be met Will not eliminate rhino

poaching completely (prostitution, diamond and

gold dealings)

Do not commercialize Proponents believe that

sustainable utilization of wildlife is inherently wrong

Do not interfere with wildlife for financial benefits

Security measures

Perimeter security Increase the number of roving

vehicle patrols Increase undercover vehicle

patrols Beef up access control

Intelligence gathering Improve reward system and

informer handling procedures Beef up counterintelligence

Planning of anti-poaching operations

Planning of anti-poaching operations should be carried out by experienced team leaders/ commanders. Intelligence gained can increase chances of successful operations against poachers. Topographical maps are very useful in planning and executing successful anti- poaching operations as terrain, roads, game paths, waterholes, rivers, bridges, cell-phone towers, and food caches can be plotted.

Other recommendations

Crime scene analysis training to law enforcement agents – this will assist in connecting the dots

Where ever possible photographic

evidence should be obtained. Any evidence found on the scene such as cartridge cases, pangas, axes, clothing, cartridges, magazines, clear imprints of tracks, and of course pictures of poached rhino, bullet entry and exit wounds must be be photographed

Dehorning Only in very high risk situations

where rhino populations are very exposed to large local populations of people and adequate security is not affordable should private rhino owners dehorn their rhino, but this is no deterrent and some form of security should be negotiated, with local police and farmer block-watch groups.

Dehorning (Cont…)

• The SADF has been using UAV’s since 1983 (supporting UNITA)

• (1)SEEKER II + (2) SEEKER 400

The role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Dones)

(3) High speed target drone

(4) Hungwe

The role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Cont…)

Operational Centre The Tactical Ground Station

The role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Cont…)

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone is an aircraft without a human pilot on board. Its flight is either controlled autonomously by computers in the vehicle, or under the remote control of a pilot on the ground or in another vehicle. They are predominantly deployed for military applications, but also used in a small but growing number of civil applications, such as firefighting and nonmilitary security work, such as surveillance of pipelines.

• UAVs typically fall into one of six functional categories (although multi-role airframe platforms are becoming more prevalent): Target and decoy

Reconnaissance

Research & development

Combat – providing attack capability

Logistics

UAVs specifically designed for civil and commercial applications fitted with a Lightweight Multirole Missile.

The role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Cont…)

Criticism of against the use of UAVs

• There has been much international criticism of the use of armed UAVs, particularly by America in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere.

• Based on figures collated by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, it estimated between 2,562 and 3,325 people were killed in drone strikes in Pakistan between June 2004 and mid-September 2012, of whom 474 to 881 were civilians.

Strengths and weaknesses of UAVs

Strengths Good for dull, dirty dangerous tasks

Operations can be conducted without risk to aircrew

Can be cheaper (caution – through life costs need to be considered)

Availability - unmanned aircraft can support tactical activity where manned assets would not be available

Small/medium scale can provide immediate, tactical situational awareness (in uncontested airspace)

Very good at intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and attack missions (in uncontested airspace)

Weaknesses Lack of small, tailored weapons

Lack of long air carriage life weapons

Vulnerable to cyber and communications link attack

Legal, ethical, moral thinking needs further development

Current systems are not built to airworthy standards – costs will rise as these are enforced

Poor penetration

Is there a nexus between rhino poaching and organized crime?

On a lighter note, lets have some fun (Cecilia from France)

Challenges …..

• KNP has 650 Rangers • KNP is the same size

as Sweden • Sweden has

…….Police officials

Challenges (Cont…)

The policing of ports of entry (use of scanners)

The policing of role-players such Safari Operators; Taxidermy; professional hunters

Private Game vs National Parks

Changing mindset of people in Viet Nam

Gang assassination (there are +- 15 Mozambican gangs operating at Kruger National Park)

The availability of fake rhino horns (this is very common in Mussina/Beit Bridge)

Fun… (Tropic of Capricorn, Mopani Rest Camp)

CONCLUSION

Fellow South Africans, we need to join hands and fight Rhino poaching. These beautiful creatures need our protection. ACT NOW!!!!!!