Apart from the pangolins, rhino and elephant trophies still drive the illicit-but-profitable trade in wildlife products. [Courtesy]Through such proceeds, UNODC says government officials, “including the police, customs and border personnel both in the supply and destination markets are compromised through bribes.”Following the money in the illegal wildlife trade reveals the complicity of any ensuing arrests, prosecutions, and why Kenya has hardly put the so-called illicit wildlife trade ‘kingpins’ behind bars. [Courtesy]But the marine business, though legal, was the perfect cover for the illicit trade in wildlife trophies. Locally, though, prosecuting key suspects in the illicit wildlife trade has been a tall order. We visited the Mombasa Law Courts that day, expecting the usual passionate pleadings by both parties.

Source: Standard Digital July 10, 2021 03:30 UTC