Former US Official Caught Smuggling Ivory out of Kenya
By James A. Foley <
http://www.natureworldnews.com/reporters/james-a-foley>
Jul 26, 2013 12:38 PM EDT
It has emerged that on the same day US President Barack Obama was in
Tanzania to announce increased aid to combat wildlife trafficking, a former
US government official was arraigned after being caught with nearly two
pounds of ivory he meant to smuggle out of Kenya.
American national David McNevin, who once served as a defense attaché at the
American embassy in Kenya, was arraigned on July 1, just as
<
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/2743/20130701/obama-makes-10m-pledg
e-combat-illegal-wildlife-trafficking.htm> Obama committed an additional $10
million in anti-wildlife trafficking aid in neighboring Tanzania.
McNevin was found with "five ivory bangles, seven ivory finger rings, seven
ivory pendants and two pieces of worked ivory" weighing a total of 1.8
pounds (0.8 kg), the
<
http://www.kws.org/info/news/2013/2julyivorysmuggling2013.html> Kenya
Wildlife Service (KWS) reported.
McNevin was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport while trying to
board a flight to Amsterdam on night of June 29.
According to The New York Times, McNevin
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/world/africa/surprising-culprit-in-ivory-
smuggling-ex-us-official.html?_r=0> pleaded guilty and paid a fine of 30,000
shillings (about $350 USD).
Paul Udoto, a spokesman for KWS, said McNevin was dealt with in "the way we
deal with any criminal trying to commit a crime," adding that McNevin did
not invoke diplomatic status and that the American embassy did not reach out
to KWS.
"He was in a hurry to finish the case and get on his way," Udoto said,
according to The Times.
The illegal trade of animals or animal parts has seen all-time financial
highs in recent years. The illicit industry is believed to generate as much
as $10 billion a year, placing it among the ranks of human trafficking, the
drug trade, counterfeiting and the illegal arms trade, according to a
Washington Post
<
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/07/01/obama-to-la
unch-major-wildlife-trafficking-initiative-in-africa/> report.
Ivory is being smuggled out of Africa at unprecedented rates, leaving the
fate of elephants on the continent in peril. Elephants could become extinct
in Africa within a decade if the problem of poaching elephants for their
tusks is not stopped, The Times reported, citing non-profit group Wildlife
Direct.
The group called for the US to do more to stop the trade of ivory within its
borders.
"We know that the US has thriving ivory markets, and 30 percent of the ivory
is illegal," said Paula Kahumbu, executive director of Wildlife Direct. "We
are calling for a US ban on domestic trade."
Trade of ivory has been linked to enabling the spread of weapons and
promoting regional instability in parts of Africa, UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon said in a recent report to the UN Security Council, the highest
international security body.
"Illegal ivory trade may currently constitute an important source of funding
for armed groups," the report stated. "Also of concern is that poachers are
using more and more sophisticated and powerful weapons, some of which, it is
believed, might be originating from the fallout in Libya."
Received on Fri Jul 26 2013 - 23:30:43 EDT