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| An endangered black rhino in Namibia |
April 2014: Three Chinese nationals, found with 14 rhino horns and leopard skins hidden in their luggage, have been arrested as they tried to board a flight to Hong Kong from Namibia.
The horns had been wrapped in foil and plastic before being hidden in clothes. They were about to board a flight to Johannesburg with a connection onto Hong Kong as their final destination.
The three Chinese, Li Xiao Liang (30), Li Zhi Bing (53) and Pu Xu Nin (49), have been charged with possession of and export in controlled wildlife products.
“This is a very serious case and it is receiving the full attention of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism because these foreign nationals were found in illegal possession of products of animals which are protected in Namibia,” said Deputy commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi from the Namibian police.
Pu Xu Nin told the magistrate at the first hearing that he had no connection with the other two accused and had no wildlife products in his possession. The magistrate, Jermaine Muchali , told him that he would have to stay in custody while police continued with their investigations and until the future court case.
"This is shocking news and we are trying to establish the origin the rhino horn. There have been very few poaching cases reported in Namibia in the areas where we support the desert adapted black rhino so we are keen to find out more about the source," said David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation CEO, Sally Case.
Source: wildlifeextra.com
