Smuggled rhino horns: The Thai connection

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Smuggled rhino horns: The Thai connection

Local prostitutes conscripted by gangs to pose as hunters are at the centre of an alleged Southeast Asian smuggling network that South African authorities are scrambling to stop

Published: 25/09/2011 at 06:37 AM
Newspaper section: Spectrum

Fetching US$2,500 (76,700 baht) for 100g in some Southeast Asian countries, it comes as no surprise to the man tasked with trying to stem the international illegal trade in rhino horns that it is now a major organised crime.

"At the moment rhino horn is worth a lot more than heroin or cocaine," says John Sellar, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) chief enforcement officer based in Geneva.

Some estimates put the price of rhino horns as high as 2.85 million baht per kilogramme, but many conservation bodies are unwilling to quote prices for fear of increasing trade in the endangered species.

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: Writer: Post Reporters; Position: Reporters

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felixqui
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Discussion 12 : 30/09/2011 at 09:15 PM12
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Legalisation would be a good idea: not because it's profitable, but because it's right. That it is profitable for the state to legalise victimless "crimes" is a solid practical bonus.

Legalisation would also be good for the rhinos. When they are privately owned and their parts of great value to the owner, it is likely that the owner will take very good care both to protect her property and to ensure a further supply of the valued goods.

The same goes for elephant tusk ivory - the best way to stop the current butchery by poachers is to legalize the trade so that decent, profit minded business people are running it instead of the current practice of handing it to gangsters with the promise of rich rewards from state supported high prices. Teh criminalisation and banning policy is as unjust as it is irrational.
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ianprince
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Discussion 11 : 25/09/2011 at 10:29 PM11
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Bad Chamlong. Very bad Chamlong. If Krama is true, his next life could be a Rhino.
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englishbob
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Discussion 10 : 25/09/2011 at 08:15 PM10
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Luckily for Rhinos everywhere, Peua Thai isn't in power in South Africa.

It appears it's difficult to stop poaching and illegal exports. PT's answer would be to legalise it.
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Silkpit
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Discussion 9 : 25/09/2011 at 06:51 PM9
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When will the Bangkok Post do their homework right here in Bangkok, and research and report, eventually disguise all the illegal trades and smuggling of endangered species, either as a transit or point of origin. I'm sure that enough evidence will be found easely at markets like "Chatuchak". Protected wildlife is diminished all over the world daily on a rapid scale, mostly for greed and money. Perhaps in these matter, good reporting could start at home.
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lazar
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Discussion 8 : 25/09/2011 at 05:12 PM8
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The Thai FM should send the UDD over there to extricate him.
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kaytwo
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Discussion 7 : 25/09/2011 at 02:29 PM7
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drsmith #6,

What went on, is going on and will go on is unfortunate but greed is universal and knows no borders. Please don't single out Thailand for all evil.
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drsmith
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Discussion 6 : 25/09/2011 at 12:17 PM6
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Another story of another Thai who will do anything for money. Greed is the cancer running throughout every single corner of Thailand.
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dao
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Discussion 5 : 25/09/2011 at 11:55 AM5
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we are exporting corruption .
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sunnyjim
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Discussion 4 : 25/09/2011 at 10:47 AM4
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"In changing his plea from guilty to innocent, Mr Chumlong said he had misunderstood his court-appointed officer and believed he would simply be fined and the case dismissed if he pleaded guilty."

Unfortunately for Mr. Chumlong, the rest of the world has a more robust judicial system than Thailand.
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observer 101
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Discussion 3 : 25/09/2011 at 09:53 AM3
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Further proof that prostitutes can be re-trained albeit for another illegal endeavor.
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