SEEJ-AFRICA

Saving Endangered Species through Education and Justice

Actioning accountability, transparency, and integrity in wildlife crime cases before the courts

Haiphong Seizes 7 tonnes of Ivory from Angola Shipment

SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: Vietnamese authorities in the port of Haiphong on Monday March 20th, 2023, seized approximately 7 tonnes of ivory in a shipment of peanuts. The 20′ container was reported as having originated from Angola, possibly the port of Luanda. Approx 600 kg of ivory had been seized in Haiphong …

International

Haiphong Seizes 7 tonnes of Ivory from Angola Shipment

SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: Vietnamese authorities in the port of Haiphong on Monday March 20th, 2023, seized approximately 7 tonnes of ivory in a shipment of peanuts. …

Eyes In The Courtroom

Court Update – #141. CF 1649/2017 Kibera Court – Republic vs. Abdinur Ibrahim Ali and 5 others 217 kg ivory

Kibera Court, March 21, 2023: This hearing was not the close of the prosecutions’s case as instructed. The hearing did not take place. The ODPP advised …

Concluded

Acquittal – #25. CF 3081/2013 – Republic vs. Nicholas Maweu John 3.3 tonnes

Nicholas Maweu John, a Mombasa clearing agent, was charged with violating provisions of the East African Community Customs Management Act relating to a 3.3t seizure …

Eyes In The Courtroom

Court Updates – CF 113/2022 Kahawa Court – Republic versus Hoang Thi Diu 146 kg ivory + 4 kg rhino horn

March 16th, 2023, Kahawa Court,(virtual):  Today was scheduled to set a date for the first hearing. It was confirmed for defence advocate that the accused’s …

Eyes In The Courtroom

Court Update – CF 3202/17 Kibera Court – Republic vs. Nashon Maati Mochere and Two Others 25 kg

March 16th, 2023 – Kibera Court: All accused present, one KWS ranger to testify who made the “buy” from the second accused. She provided the number …

Eyes In The Courtroom

Court Update – #145. CF 74/2020 Kibera Court – Republic vs. Thomas Muhoro Ngatia and two others 55 kg ivory

March 14th, 2023: Cash bail withdrawn to depositor as accused in custody serving a 2 year sentence re 112 kg of ivory.  Next hearing still scheduled …

International

Giving a voice in court to the ‘victim’ species suffering at the hands of the illegal wildlife trade – EIA

Environmental Investigation Agency – Amanda and her team started the Species Victim Impact Statements (SVIS) Initiative in 2015 to provide law enforcement authorities with reliable …

Kenya

Kitui – Man Arrested with 0.3 kg of Ivory Pieces

Man arrested with 3 pieces of elephant tusks in Kitui by Cyrus Ombati, Chief Crime Reporter, The Star Police are holding a 60-year-old man after he …

Eyes In The Courtroom

The White Towel is Thrown to End Eight Year Ivory Prosecution

March 7th, 2023, was the day for the prosecution to close its case. It had been almost eight years since the first arrests, after Thailand …

Kenya

Kiambu – Four arrested with 40 kg of Ivory Tusks

SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On March 121th, 2023, a combined team of police and KWS rangers arrested four men with 15 tusk pieces weighing approximately 40 kg. …

Kenya

Jefwa brothers resurface following years in exile after ivory seizure

by Brian Ocharo The Nation March 11th, 2023: The Jefwa brothers, who have been on Interpol’s “Red List” for involvement in ivory smuggling,and have been in …

Eyes In The Courtroom

Court Update – CF E064/2023 Mariakani Court – Republic vs. Joseph Wambua Mutua and Wambua Mutavi Nduti 32 kg ivory

SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On February 14th, 2023, KWS arrested two men with 32 kg of ivory in the Kilibasi area, of Kwale County, on the south …

Eyes In The Courtroom

Court Updates – #125: CF 1132/2015 Mombasa Court – Republic versus Abdurahman Mahmoud Sheikh and 8 Others 3127 kg ivory

March 7th, 2023 (hearing): While not declared as such, and reading between the lines, it was finally time for the Office of the Director of Public …

Over 100 kilograms

Press Release – Ivory Traffickers Jefwa Brothers Turn Themselves in after Seven Years on the Run

MOMBASA, KENYA, March 8th, 2023:  Two Kenyan ivory traffickers who have been on the Interpol Red Notice list for over seven years are no longer …

Commentary

UPDATE – The Jefwa Brothers, Could They Turn Themselves In? {They Did}

(UPDATED) March 7th, 2023: The Jefwa brothers are no longer wanted. During testimony today during the trial for Abdurahman Mahmoud Sheikh and 8 others, Senior …

Kenya

13.5 tonnes of Seized Sandalwood Burned

SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: In a ceremony presided over by the Cabinet secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Roselinda Soipan Tuya, and attended …

Concluded

Rosewood Court Updates – ELC 23/2019 from 640 tonne seizure Mombasa May 2014

The full story to date can be read at: Kenya court orders return of $13 million in seized rosewood to suspected traffickers Blundered Verdict by …

Eyes In The Courtroom

Court Update – CF E039/2022 Kwale Court – Republic Vs James Malembi Mwatsahu and Juma Mwanza Haranga 91 kg ivory

SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On February 5th, 2022, KWS officers arrested two men who were ferrying 91 kg of ivory on a motorcycle. The ivory was in …

International

Vietnamese Court Hands Out 13 Year Prison Sentence to Wildlife Trafficker

Nguyen Duc Tai was originally arrested in June 2022. SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: A Da Nang court, on February 21st, 2023, sentenced Nguyen Duc Tai to 13 …

Concluded

Conviction – CF 895/2019 Mariakani Court – Republic vs. Charles Mweni and Tabitha Mueni 73 kg ivory

SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On February 22nd, 2023, both accused were sentenced to terms of imprisonment; Charles Mweni to 4 years jail and Tabitha Mueni to a …

Linked Ivory Seizures

Court Updates – #33: CF 418/2017 Shanzu Law Court – Republic versus Falah Mansu Yusuf and 5 Others

February 22nd, 2023 (Mention): The case is back in court 1 and that of SPM Omido.  SPM Omido has recently transferred to Shanzu from Kwale law …

International

UPDATED – Singapore convicts Vietnamese National in 3 tonne Ivory Shipment from Nigeria

February 15th, 2023: District Judge Ong Chin Rhu sentenced Dao Thi Boi to 10 months jail for the illegal importation of 1787 tusks and tusk pieces …

International

Thai poaching kingpin is on the run after prison sentence

by Rachel Nuwer, National Geographic, February 15, 2023 Around this time four years ago, the mood among wildlife officials in Thailand was somber. The case against Bach …

Kenya

Webuye – Cop, civilian arrested selling 9 kg elephant tusk

Cop, civilian arrested selling Sh900,000 elephant tusk in Webuye by Cyrus Ombati, Chief Crime Report, The Star February 14th, 2023: A police officer and a civilian …

Kenya

Naivasha – Three Charged in Dealing with 58 kg of Ivory

SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On the afternoon of February 11th, 2023, KWS officers received information of a man looking to sell 58 kg of ivory. An undercover …

Commentary

Consistency and Deterrence in Ivory Cases Still a Challenge for the Courts

It would have been a safe bet to wager.  On January 18th, 2014, in Nampula, Mozambique, a 40-year-old Chinese national, Tang Tongjian (also known as …

Under 100 kilograms

Court Update – CF E138/21 Kwale Court – Republic vs. Josphat Mtoi Kuri 35 kg ivory

Kwale County Administrator Charged with Dealing and Possession of 35 kg of Ivory SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: April 17th, 2021, police arrested a Kwale County clerical officer …

Concluded

#20. CF 417/2013 Mombasa Two Years in Jail Commuted to Non-custodial Probation for 3.8 tonne Ivory Case

Jail sentence commuted to non-custodial probation after serving 9 months of 24 months sentence. UPDATE: February 6th, 2023 – It was learned today that James Ngala Kassiwa, …

Kenya

Meru – Nairobi policeman arrested with 21 kg of ivory

SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On January 28th, 2023, police and KWS investigators arrested a Nairobi based police officer who was looking to sell 21 kg of ivory. The …

Kenya

Gichugu – Six Men Arrested with Two Tusks Totaling 4.5 kg

SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On January 19th, 2023, six men were arrested in Gichugu area with 4.5 kg of ivory. They were found in a Prado vehicle …

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Observing, Tracking, Reporting and Supporting Wildlife Crime Investigations and Prosecutions