SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:
- On Thursday March 21st, 2024, a Mozambique joint task force that included the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) seized a 20′ sea container found to contain 651 pieces of ivory amongst sacks of corn. (the ivory weight has not been disclosed)
- The shipment was said to be bound for Dubai but was almost certainly to be diverted to any number of south-east Asian ports.
- The last major containerized ivory seizure occurred one year ago on March 20th, 2023 at Haiphong, when Vietnamese authorities found 7000 kg of ivory in a shipment of peanuts from Angola.
- Mozambique is no stranger to the export of major shipments of wildlife trophies. In May 2023, Dar es Salaam intercepted 166 tusks being shipped by air from Pemba. In July 2022, Malaysia seized 6000 kg of ivory, 29 rhino horn, pangolin scales and Big Cat teeth and claws that was shipped from Maputo, transiting Dubai. In April 2018, Mozambique authorities seized 3354 kg of ivory in Maputo before it could be shipped overseas.
- Records appear to indicate that sacks of corn have not been previously used as a cover load in a major ivory shipment, however, 3 weeks prior to the 3354 kg ivory seizure, a Biera businessman was arrested with 81 kg of ivory hidden in sacks of corn bran.
- Purely as speculation, Moazu Kromah, one of the leaders of the West African crime group, who was incarcerated in the U.S. in 2019 for trafficking wildlife trophies throughout sub-Saharan Africa, was released from prison three months ago. It was known that he had close ‘business’ ties in Mozambique and is believed to own property there.
- Also read Environmental Investigation Agency’s “Large ivory seizure in Mozambique comes amid worrying signs of increasing elephant poaching – EIA”
Mozambique Bio
BREAKING: SERNIC and AT seize 651 bags in a container that was in DP World containing ivory tips in Maputo Port bound for Dubai
The editorial office of Mozambique Bio has received from a reliable source information that the Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) and the Tax Authority of Mozambique intercepted on March 21, 2024, around 11:00, suspected of a twenty-foot container with the number CRXU3427102, seal 206897, brown color that was in the D P World ready to ship for export.
According to the information we have accessed, container D was tested (kudumba) P World immediately and a multi-sectoral team consisting of SERNIC, Customs, PTC and PPRNMA was formed, in order to proceed with the physical and detailed examination.
After thorough examination it was found that the existence of banned species called ivory tips packed in white bags, in a quantity of 651 (six hundred and fifty-one units), these species were stored in the central part of the inside of the container and in an attempt to trick the authorities and were Arranged around corn bags to make it clear that it was corn, and it was destined to Dubai, however the product will be weighing and afterwards efforts to identify the exporter and customs clearance.
Lawyer David Ucama told exclusively to Mozambique Bio that SERNIC must communicate to the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) to make an expert on these seized products.
“SERNIC will communicate with ANAC to do the expertise and be the faithful deposit as it has been usual” – said biodiversity conservation lawyer David Ucama.
Mozambique Bio heard a Mozambican Wildlife Crime Specialist who asked for anonymity saying that:
“From the photos I had access to and what I saw, by the quality of the ivory, it must be a wildlife product from I am not Mozambique, but also from organized crime installed in neighboring countries. They wanted to use the Port of Mozambique to export the product” – said the Mozambican Wildlife Crime Specialist.
Mozambique Bio has contacted the spokesperson of SERNIC at the national level, Leonardo Simbine informing that the Tax Authority is preparing to give a press conference on the subject.
According to the information that Mozambique Bio had access, due diligence is underway to locate the owner of the merchandise.
Mozambique: Authorities seize huge haul of elephant tusks bound for Dubai – photos
The Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) and Mozambique Tax Authority (AT) yesterday intercepted a 20-foot container containing 651 pieces of elephant tusk ivory at the port of Maputo. The consignment was bound for Dubai.
According to Moçambique Bio, the prohibited items were hidden in the centre of the container, surrounded by bags of corn.
According to the same publication, efforts are now underway to identify the exporter and customs broker of the container.
Meanwhile, lawyer David Ucama said that SERNIC would notify the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) so it could carry out an examination of the seized products.
“SERNIC will inform ANAC to carry out the investigation and be the faithful custodian, as it usually has been,” the biodiversity conservation lawyer said.
An anonymous Mozambican wildlife crime expert told Mozambique Bio: “Based on the photos I had access to, and given the quality of the ivory, it must be not only from Mozambique, but also from organised crime in neighbouring countries.”
SERNIC spokesperson Leonardo Simbine said that the Tax Authority would presently give a press conference on the matter.
