January 23rd, 2013 - Singapore snags 3rd Mombasa ivory shipment in a month - 1833 kg found amongst mazera stones
CASE CONCLUSION:
On Friday, February 11th, 2022, Chief Magistrate Francis Kyambia, ruled in a Mombasa Court, “the prosecution has not met the threshold of establishing a prima facie case”, thereby acquitting the three accused. After eight years in court, the testimony and exhibits of 15 witnesses, and the repatriation of 1833 kg of ivory from Singapore to Kenya, the prosecution could not prove the essential elements of the two charges before the court. For complete story go to: https://www.seej-africa.org/kenya/nine-year-ivory-trafficking-case-ends-in-acquittal-of-three-kenya/
#110 is a number assigned indicating this seizure has a link(s) to the West African cartel and its ivory was not DNA analysed.
SNAPSHOT:
- Kenyan Authorities charged Fredrick Sababu Mungule (a clearing agent), James Ngala Kassiwa, Nelson Ayoo ( Kenya Revenue Authority officers) and Gideon Natali Onsinyo Nyangau (a Kenya Ports Authority employee) relating to this shipment. Fredrick Mungule had been also identified as a facilitator in a 2011 shipment but never charged. (See #117)
- This was the third ivory shipment through Mombasa by this cartel within a three week period. This prosecution, CF 754/13, is still ongoing in Mombasa court and now in its 8th year.
- They (less Ayoo) were also charged with a 3827 kg ivory seizure made in Mombasa just over one week previous and a 1323 kg ivory seizure made in Hong Kong on January 3rd. Those charges are represented by court files CF 255/13 and CF 417/13 and still ongoing in Mombasa court. (see also #4 and #12)
- The same transport company (and same drivers) delivered the three ‘ivory’ containers to Mombasa port. It also delivered 3 more containers of ivory to Mombasa port in 2015 (see case’s #40 and #118)
- There was no DNA sampling of this shipment initially which was not the norm for KWS. In 2019, the shipment was, however, sampled but the results are not yet known.
- This ivory shipment was repatriated to Kenya in August 2013, ostensibly for trial purposes.
- In 2017, staff of Kenyan NGO, Wildlife Direct, were subject to intimidation and threats for covering the court proceedings.
ETIS: 102078
FILE | 754/13, 289/15, 1197/15 |
SEIZURE DATE | Wednesday January 23rd, 2013 |
DEPARTURE DATE | December 10 – Entry: 2012 MSA 3816359. |
LOCATION | Singapore |
LISTED DESTINATION | Haiphong, Vietnam |
POINT OF ORIGIN | Kampala |
POINT OF ORIGIN DNA | Not Yet Tested |
TRANSIT POINTS | Mombasa |
SEIZED WEIGHT | 1833 kg (1.8 Tonnes) {Reported initially as 1848.5 kg} |
SEIZED DESCRIPTION | 1099 tusk pieces in 65 gunny sacks contained within wooden crates |
VALUE | Ksh 91,650,000 (charge sheet) |
OBFUSCATION | Mazera stones |
DECLARED AS | 1250 packages of waste paper |
CONTAINER | NYKU 2744973 |
ASSOCIATED VEHICLES | KSM 783 David Ali Mwariro |
SHIPS | MV Jan Ritscher + Cape Moss |
EXPORTER CONSIGNORS | Ngindo General Trading Company (BOL) |
CLEARING AGENT FREIGHT FORWARDER | Three Ways Freighters Ltd. Fredrick Mungule Mwamba Freight Services |
CONSIGNEE | Global Import Export and Logistics JSC, Singapore (refused container, name mistaken) |
SHIPPING LINE | East African Commercial Shipping Company |
Ivory haul from Africa seized in Singapore - BBC News
Customs officials in Singapore have uncovered a shipment of 1.8 tonnes of ivory, with a value of around $2.5m (£1.6m).
It is the biggest ivory haul in the country in more than a decade.
The consignment, marked as being waste paper, had come from Africa and was reportedly passing through Singapore…..
Gerald Neo, executive manager of the Quarantine & Inspection Department of Singapore’s Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), said in a statement that the haul was found after a tip-off.
A total of 1,099 pieces of raw tusk were found in 65 sacks, he said……………
Seized ivory shipped back to Kenya
By Philip Mwakio
KENYA: Some 1.8 tonnes of Kenyan ivory impounded overseas has been shipped back to Kenya.
This shows a historic display of global cooperation against illegal trade in banned game trophies.
Although the cargo has been traced to Kenya, it is not known who exported it.
It was seized in Singapore last December on its way to Vietnam.
According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Assistant Director, Coast Conservation Area, Arthur Tuda, the consignment will form part of investigations into illegal ivory trade.
The name of the consignee was missing from documents in possession of investigating officers. Singaporean port officials who impounded the cargo are expected to provide evidence when the case comes up for mention in a Kenyan court.
“This kind of investigation is a very expensive undertaking and we as a government are committed to get to the bottom of it and end poaching which is at its peak,’’ Mr Tuda told journalists at the Mombasa Port Police headquarters yesterday.
The returned ivory will be under key and lock at the heavily guarded port police as investigations continue. The consignment that arrived in a 20-foot container aboard MV Cape Moss had initially been passed off as Mazeras stones for construction purposes and was destined for Vietnam.
“We realised that the container that left aboard MV Jan Riescher in January 2012 could be carrying illegal ivory and made an urgent appeal to the shipping line to cooperate. They obliged and made a stopover at the next port of call which was in Singapore,’’ Tuda said.
As the container was opened at the Port Police yard ten out of the 17 wooden box crates had Mazeras stones while seven containers had the real cut ivory pieces.
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/coast/article/2000091567/seized-ivory-shipped-back-to-kenya
