Authorities in Africa took a big step in clamping down on poaching activity as police seized $1 million worth of rhino horns and ivory and shut down an illegal ivory factory in a sweep across southern Africa.

Arrests

The operation, which Interpol coordinated earlier this month, included the arrests of 41 people.

Authorities in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia carried out raids on markets and shops.

To the Brink

The combination of political instability in Africa and high demand for ivory in Asia has driven poaching to historically high levels recently. This in turn has pushed many species of rhino and elephant in Africa to the brink of extinction.

International

Most of the people who actually carry out the poaching are poor people attempting to make ends meet, but the organisers of this activity are believed to be international smuggling rings with links in many companies. This activity has been linked to political corruption and the smuggling rings are though to have infiltrated many levels of law enforcement, from park rangers to airport security.

Wide Ranging

“The impact of wildlife crime is wide-ranging,” Younger said.

“People are threatened with violence, law enforcement officers have been killed while carrying out their duties, and there is the wider economic impact on a country and therefore the livelihoods of ordinary people.”

First Steps

It is hope that this Interpol investigation will lead to further arrests as the extent of the poaching and smuggling operations is revealed.

“Taking these illegal items off the market is just the first step,” said Peter Younger, manager of Interpol’s Africa wildlife programme.

“Information gathered as part of this operation will also enable law enforcement, both in Africa and abroad, to identify smuggling routes and eventually to further arrests.”

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