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China man jailed for rhino horn dealings
01 Jan 1970 at 01:00hrs | Views
A Chinese national has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for illegally dealing in wildlife, one of the harshest penalties imposed in Zimbabwe's ongoing crackdown on poaching and the illicit wildlife trade.
Harare magistrates on Thursday convicted 57-year-old Cong Yanzhong on two counts of unlawfully dealing in wildlife products. The sentence followed his arrest in July, when detectives recovered 7.7kg of rhino horn valued at US$240,000 and 36kg of raw ivory worth just over US$6,000 from his possession and residence.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Cong was trailed by detectives on July 16 after a tip-off. Officers intercepted him carrying a black satchel and a brown bag containing three shrink-wrapped rhino horns, for which he could not produce the required permits. A subsequent search of his Harare home uncovered the ivory, raising suspicions of his involvement in a wider trafficking network.
"The sentencing sends a strong message that Zimbabwe has zero tolerance for wildlife crime," the NPA said in a statement. "We will continue to work tirelessly to protect our precious natural heritage and ensure that those who seek to profit from the destruction of our wildlife face the full force of the law."
Zimbabwe, home to some of the world's largest populations of elephants and black rhinos, has been confronting sophisticated poaching syndicates operating across borders. Demand for ivory and rhino horn, particularly in parts of Asia where they are valued for ornaments and traditional medicine, has fueled the illegal trade.
The NPA said Cong's sentencing is intended to deter others from engaging in the lucrative but illegal wildlife market.
Harare magistrates on Thursday convicted 57-year-old Cong Yanzhong on two counts of unlawfully dealing in wildlife products. The sentence followed his arrest in July, when detectives recovered 7.7kg of rhino horn valued at US$240,000 and 36kg of raw ivory worth just over US$6,000 from his possession and residence.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Cong was trailed by detectives on July 16 after a tip-off. Officers intercepted him carrying a black satchel and a brown bag containing three shrink-wrapped rhino horns, for which he could not produce the required permits. A subsequent search of his Harare home uncovered the ivory, raising suspicions of his involvement in a wider trafficking network.
Zimbabwe, home to some of the world's largest populations of elephants and black rhinos, has been confronting sophisticated poaching syndicates operating across borders. Demand for ivory and rhino horn, particularly in parts of Asia where they are valued for ornaments and traditional medicine, has fueled the illegal trade.
The NPA said Cong's sentencing is intended to deter others from engaging in the lucrative but illegal wildlife market.
Source - zimlive
