In June Kenya Police
issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with a seizure in Mombasa
including 228 tusks and 74 ivory pieces with a total weight of more
than two tonnes. Feizal Ali Mohomed escaped arrest and has been a fugitive ever since. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment or fines of at least 20 million shillings or US$224,000.
"This red notice is a good move to protect elephants. We need to get to the kingpins to end the ivory trade," said IFAW CEO Azzedine Downes.
"INTERPOL can undertake enforcement operations in source, transit and
end-user countries, which complements IFAW's strategy to combat wildlife
crime."
In May 2013
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) was the first
non-governmental organization to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with
Interpol's Environmental Crime Program. The two have collaborated on
numerous projects since 2005 including Interpol's largest-ever illegal
ivory trade operation in 2012. The organizations joined forces to combat
global wildlife crime, especially crime related to the illegal killing
of and trafficking in elephant, rhinoceros and tiger parts.
As one of the world's most lucrative criminal activities, valued at US$19-billion
annually, illegal wildlife trade ranks fifth globally in terms of
value, behind the trafficking in drugs, people, oil and counterfeiting.
Most illegal ivory is destined for Asia, in particular China, where it has soared in value as an investment vehicle and is coveted as "white gold". Availability of legal ivory in China purchased form the stockpile sale in southern Africa in 2008 has, in turn, boosted demand encouraging illegal ivory trade and the poaching of elephant to meet market needs.
As
part of a worldwide capacity building initiative IFAW trains law
enforcement officers in wildlife trafficking prevention in several
countries throughout Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania, and the Caribbean.
The IFAW report, Criminal Nature: The Global Security Implications of the Illegal Wildlife Trade,
documents the threat the illegal trade poses to animals like elephants
and rhinos, and also people. The learn more about the illegal ivory
trade, download IFAW's digital magazine Unveiling the Ivory Trade
RELATED LINKS
http://www.ifaw.org
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