SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:
- On January 24, 2019, and acting on intelligence, Ugandan authorities stopped a truck/container on the Kampala outskirts carrying teak logs.
- The cargo, enroute to Vietnam transiting Mombasa, was found to contain 3299 kg of ivory and 423.7 kg of pangolin scales secreted in the hollowed out timber logs.
- Two Vietnamese nationals were initially arrested and more were later charged.
- Part of this shipment contained ivory known to have come from the Burundi Government ivory stockpile, similar to 5 other seized ivory shipments with a Kampala root, undoubtably linked the the Moazu Kromah network.
- This case is presently wallowing before the Uganda courts.
CHARGED:
Accused #1: Pham Van Chien (arrested with container)
Accused #2: Nguyen Son Dong (hired container)
Accused #3: Phung Thi Lien (f)
Accused #4: Dinh Van Chung
Accused #5: Vo Quoc Trinh
Accused #6: Dinh Van Quan aka ‘Tony’
Accused #7: Thai Xuan Phuong (TXP)
Accused #8: Nguyen Van Thanh
Ten others are wanted including a Thai Xuan Tuan, who in August 2018 was arrested at Entebbe IA with 23.4 kg of rhino horn preparing to fly to Vietnam. It is not known what happened to his court case but he was subsequently permitted to leave Uganda, only to return again to traffic ivory and rhino horn.
CHARGES:
- Possession of Prohibited goods contrary to section 200 (d) (i) of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 (On two counts of Ivory and Pangolin scales). Upon conviction under this section the accused would be liable to imprisonment for maximum of Five (05) years or to a fine equal to 50% of the dutiable value of the goods involved.
2. Possession of wild life products without a wild life use right contrary to sections 30 and 75 (b) of the Uganda Wildlife Act, Cap. 200. (On two counts of Ivory and Pangolin scales). Upon conviction under this provision the accused would be liable to a fine not less than UGX 1,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than 5 years or both, in any case, the fine shall not be less than the value of the specimen involved in the commission of the offence.
3. Conspiracy to contravene provision of section 200 (d) (i) towit; possession of prohibited goods contrary to section 193 of East African Community Customs Management Act 2004. Upon conviction, the punishment under this section is imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.
