Exposing the Hydra: The growing role of Vietnamese syndicates in ivory trafficking named The Hydra. conducted by Freeland onaspecific network, code should not beconfusedwiththe ongoing work being operating inthe illegalwildlife tradeinVietnamand the multiplicity ofdifferent networks (withmanyheads) The Hydra reference refers inthe titleofthisreport to quibusandit, sitaqueenture helpeddolendit, make thiswork voluptam possible. endusci psunto organisation’svoluptas enisasdeevel ipsam missionand values long-termmaximolorera commitment to the doles magni tetea numeroustem aspedque nnes whose apeverrovid other supporters EIA alsowishessin net to fugitatur, thank its qui int quenihic dolorem volla vendam, consuo molor DiCaprio Foundation. nihic tem aspedquei oditaquates withthe Leonardoin partnership molor sinnet fugitatur, qui int que Wildlife Network, Conservation dolorem volla vendam, consequo by Save the Elephants and the volla vendam, conseqci oditaquates Fund, aninitiative launched asped quei oditaquates dolorem Foundation, The Elephant Crisis fugitatur, qui int quenihic tem Steven Stone, The Rufford vendam, consequo molor sin net Kindy French, OakFoundation, cus aci oditaquates dolorem volla Friedman-French Foundation, nobit ium alici bla cone consequam Foundation, EJFPhilanthropies, Ximporae. Utautfugitis resti utatia the following donors: Adessium We wouldlike to thank 2 Wildlife

cooling sector. efficiencyimproving inthe cooling energy sector. efficiency inthe illicit tradeandexposing related improving illicittradeand energy greenhouserefrigerant greenhouse gases,exposing related gases, tocampaigning refrigerant to eliminate powerful eliminatepowerful climate changethe impactofclimatechange by campaigning by Finally,and porpoises.Finally, wereduce wereduce the impactof whales, dolphinsexploitation ofwhales,dolphins and porpoises. andbycatch commercial and commercial exploitation of bythreats plastic pollution, posedby plastic pollution, bycatch byecosystems addressing addressing the the threats posed safeguardwork to safeguard global marine ecosystems global marine cash cropsfor like like palmoil.We palmoil.We work to illegal loggingas and and deforestation deforestation for tigers, and foresttigers,and forest crimes suchas crimes such with afocusonelephantselephants,pangolins and expose transnationalwildlife crime, Our undercover investigations environmental crime and abuse. We investigate and campaign against ABOUT EIA England and Wales Number: 440569842. Registered in UK. Company Number: 7752350VAT Environmental Investigation Agency eia-international.org E: [email protected] T: +44(0)2073547960 London N10NY UK in England and Wales VAT Number: 440569842. Registered (UK) Ltd.Company Number: 7752350 Environmental Investigation Agency eia-global.org E: [email protected] T: +12024836621 Washington DC20009USA PO Box 53343 EIA US 62-63 UpperStreet, EIA UK Environmental Investigation Agency

©EIAimage EXPOSING THEHYDRA References Recommendations -Duong Van Dang -Nguyen Cong Tho -Teo BoonChing -LeThiThanhHai -Nguyen TienSon -Nguyen Thanh Trung -PhanChi Key player profiles ofconcealment The art The economics The routes used Introduction Key players Executive summary CONTENTS 20 22 23 14 10 19 18 16 21 12 17 13 15 4 6 5 3

Executive summary Key players

Despite being the focus of numerous Over two years, EIA investigated a complex network of investigations and exposés regarding the Vietnamese-led ivory trafficking syndicates. The key country’s role in the international illegal players are:it products. wildlife trade, continues to be a primary hub for ivory trafficking.

Research and analysis by the syndicates deal in a variety of contraband PHAN CHI Environmental Investigation Agency wildlife, often shipping mixed cargo. Role in syndicate: Head (EIA) reveals that since 2009, 56 tonnes of Countries of operation: Vietnam, Mozambique, South Africa ivory have been seized in Vietnam and a EIA estimates that since 2015 the ivory Type of contraband: Ivory, rhino horn, canines, claws further 20 tonnes linked to Vietnam seized traffickers identified during the course

in other countries. This is equivalent to of this investigation have been linked

ivory sourced from approximately 11,414 to seizures totalling 6.3 tonnes of ivory elephants. and 299kg of rhino horn, including the NGUYEN THANH TRUNG recent record seizure of 50 rhino horns Role in syndicate: Independent operator Failure to take any meaningful action in Malaysia in August 2018. Detailed Countries of operation: Vietnam, Mozambique against identified networks and conversations between EIA investigators Type of contraband: Ivory, rhino horn, canines, claws

What is particularly individuals has led to the present and syndicate members identified in this concerning is that situation where international Vietnamese report also reveal that between January Vietnam, host country of the Illegal Wildlife Trade syndicates are operating with impunity 2016 and November 2017 there were at Conference in Hanoi in across Africa and into Vietnam and its least 22 successful shipments of ivory 2016 and supported by the NGUYEN TIEN SON UK Government, claimed to neighbouring countries. Illegal ivory, rhino from Africa, with an estimated weight of Role in syndicate: Independent operator have made great progress horn and pangolins are entering Vietnam 19 tonnes and potential revenue of $14 Countries of operation: in tackling IWT, which Congo, , Mozambique, Nigeria, Vietnam is not reflected in the at alarming rates, accelerating further million. Type of contraband: Ivory, rhino horn, pangolin scales findings of this report. declines in already-besieged populations of elephants, rhinos and pangolins. Vietnam has also made repeated promises,

including under the Convention on Illegal Over the course of two years, EIA Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora LE THI THANH HAI conducted an investigation into the and Fauna (CITES), to tackle ivory and Role in syndicate: Specialist transporter modus operandi of some of these rhino horn trafficking – promises that Countries of operation: Laos, Vietnam, criminal networks. What emerged was remain unfulfilled. Type of contraband: Ivory, rhino horn, pangolin scales an international landscape plagued by a significant number of organised This is not a lost cause and there are Vietnamese syndicates. We have examples of where things have been highlighted only a handful of individuals turned around. Improved enforcement TEO BOON CHING here, but there are many more involved efforts in Tanzania since 2015, for example, Role in syndicate: Specialist transporter and too many to include in this report. have led to a significant improvement, Countries of operation: Malaysia with syndicate members cautioning Type of contraband: Ivory, rhino horn, pangolin scales Key findings are that there are a number against working in Tanzania. The illegal of major criminal syndicates operating in traders EIA encountered also raised Mozambique and other African countries concerns about working in China because trafficking wildlife into and through of enforcement efforts there. The activities Vietnam. They are loosely structured with detailed in this report are serious criminal NGUYEN CONG THO Role in syndicate: Specialist transporter distinct and hierarchical roles, but with offences under the laws of Mozambique, Countries of operation: Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam flexibility within the groups to co-operate Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and some of the Type of contraband: Ivory, rhino horn or switch affiliation. Unlike the Chinese key countries featured. criminal groups EIA has previously investigated, the Vietnamese are prepared Actionable information from this to be more 'hands-on'. Sophisticated investigation has been shared with the methods of concealment have been relevant enforcement authorities. DUONG VAN DANG Role in syndicate: Worker developed and deployed and specialist Countries of operation: Mozambique, Vietnam transporters are used to move the goods Type of contraband: Ivory along multiple routes. Corruption is a feature all along the trade chain and most

4 Environmental Investigation Agency EXPOSING THE HYDRA 5 Introduction Sum of total ivory seized in Vietnam (kg) 56,160.95 8,848.6 Vietnam’s role in the global illegal ivory 7,554.62 7819 6,527.3 5,580.43 4,900.6 5,500.7 4,603.9 3,847.1 978.7 trade has escalated during the past decade. Serving as a prominent transit route for large

ivory shipments bound for China, it also has 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 (to date) a growing carving industry and is one of the Year Grand total

world’s biggest markets for ivory sales. A survey of Vietnam’s ivory market found liberalisation has led to increased Sum of total ivory seized outside of, but linked to, Vietnam (kg) that the number of items on sale had commerce and transport links with grown sixfold between 2008-15 and that regions such as Africa. In 2016, for the number of carvers in the country had example, Vietnam imported 420,000m3 20,314.53 4,706.25 4,948.1 4,008.83 risen tenfold during the same period. of raw timber logs from Cameroon, 2,385.2 1,996.35 2,205 The survey also revealed that Africa was compared with 177,000m3 in 2013.2 N/A 64.8 N/A the origin for the vast majority of raw A growing numbers of Vietnamese tusks smuggled into the country, a shift nationals are now working in the compared to a previous study in 2008 continent. 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 (to date) which found that most tusks in Vietnam Year Grand total Ivory bangle offered for had come from Asian elephants.1 Weak enforcement and widespread sale by a Vietnamese trade corruption also facilitate Vietnamese processed with a bullet intact, possibly from the Vietnam’s growing significance in the ivory traders. In 2017, Vietnam was ammunition used to kill international ivory trade has been ranked 107th out of 180 countries in terms the elephant it was sourced from. recognised by CITES, which classifies of the perceived level of corruption.3 A Vietnam under its National Ivory Action review of Vietnam’s response to wildlife was initially hailed as a breakthrough methodologies and the expanding scope Plan process as one of nine countries most crime also found a range of enforcement but ultimately resulted in a jail sentence of their activities, especially in Africa. affected by the illegal ivory trade. problems, including: inability to bring of only 13 months. offenders to court; inadequate sentence Lomé, Togo 2014 A range of factors are behind the provisions; inability to address systemic Analysis of significant ivory seizures In January 2014, Togolese authorities emergence of Vietnam as a major ivory organisational corruption; and lack of confirms Vietnam’s burgeoning role in intercepted almost four tonnes of ivory trafficking hub. Within Vietnam, wildlife effective channels to share intelligence ivory trafficking, especially linked to concealed within timber destined for crime syndicates that previously operated internationally.4 Africa. EIA’s database of ivory seizures Vietnam. Investigations led to the in the illicit rhino horn and tiger trades reveals that since 2009, 56 tonnes of arrest of Vietnamese national Dinh Huu have now diversified into other wildlife Since hosting a major international ivory have been seized in Vietnam Khao, ostensibly involved in the timber contraband such as ivory and pangolins. conference on wildlife crime in 2016, the and a further 20 tonnes seized in other business in West Africa. Khao revealed Due to its geographical position, Vietnam Vietnamese Government has started countries en route to Vietnam. As that the boss of the timber company, serves as a key transit route for ivory to improve its enforcement response seizures represent a small fraction of the named Dao Van Bien, had orchestrated destined for neighbouring China, with and has amended its Penal Code to total trade, it is clear that huge volumes the smuggling attempt from Vietnam.10 bulk shipments often moving through the accommodate stronger penalties. In of ivory are flowing into, and through, northern port of Hai Phong and overland April 2017, Vietnamese authorities Vietnam with the majority of in-country Danang, Vietnam 2015 across the porous border with China’s arrested Nguyen Mau Chien, head of a seizures failing to lead to arrests. In August 2015, officers at Tien Sa port Guangxi Province. Wildlife trade centres wildlife crime syndicate implicated in made three separate seizures of ivory or ‘villages’ such as Nhi Khe in northern trafficking large amounts of rhino horn, Scrutiny of individual seizure incidents tusks.11 The first case involved 700kg of Vietnam have also expanded and cater ivory tusks and pangolins from Africa provides insights into the organised ivory and rhino horn in two containers largely for Chinese customers. Economic and illegally trading in tigers.5 His arrest nature of Vietnamese-led ivory shipped from Mozambique and trafficking syndicates, their smuggling discovered hidden inside blocks of fake

Key 2008: Widespread December 2012: Over 1.8 tonnes Seizures illegal ivory trade in 2012: Vietnam ranked of ivory and rhino horn seized in January 2014: Four tonnes of ivory 14 Exposés Vietnam reported6 ‘worst in wildlife crime’8 Kenya destined for Vietnam12 seized in Togo destined for Vietnam

June 2009: Vietnam’s March 2012: Mong Cai, March 2013: Vietnam identified largest ivory seizure (over Vietnam, exposed as wildlife as country of ‘primary concern’ six tonnes)7 trafficking hub9 under CITES13

6 Environmental Investigation Agency EXPOSING THE HYDRA 7 • Use of financial investment stone. A few days later, another 2.2 tonnes of ivory even travelling to remote areas to recruit local poachers. soldiers despatched to important hubs such as Maputo • Sophistication of smuggling was detected concealed inside containers of timber for months at a time to gather and pack ivory for techniques and routes sent from Nigeria. Both shipments were intended for It was through Trung’s connections that EIA shipment. the same Vietnamese company. This was followed by • Use of fake or front companies investigators were able to secure a meeting in Maputo the seizure of another tonne of ivory and four tonnes • Use of mules or couriers with syndicate head Phan Chi in November 2016. Based Concealment: Vietnamese syndicates use sophisticated of pangolin scales concealed in a shipment of beans • Huge profits in South Africa on a ‘retirement’ visa, Chi has a timber concealment methods for ivory shipped in containers; loaded at Port Klang, Malaysia. • Use of multiple shipments front business to facilitate his activities in the illegal hollowed-out logs, stacks of sawn timber and the use of • Collaboration with other ivory trade and claimed to have 10 'soldiers' working for fake stones are notable examples. , Cambodia 2016 organised crime groups him in Mozambique. Chi claimed he had the capacity to In December 2016, Cambodian customs officials at source up to 1.5 tonnes of ivory a month. Diversification: Most of the Vietnamese syndicates • Geographic sphere of operations the inland cargo terminal in Phnom Penh discovered trade in a variety of contraband wildlife and often and influence 1.3 tonnes of ivory and other illegal wildlife products By April 2017, EIA had secured a meeting in Hanoi with despatch mixed cargoes including ivory, rhino horn and concealed within hollowed-out square logs and sealed • Money laundering Nguyen Tien Son, a prolific ivory trader with operations pangolins. with wax. The shipment had originated in Mozambique. • Use of persons of high political in East and West Africa. Son offered investigators the Documents revealed that the recipient was Cam or social status chance to buy eight separate batches of ivory tusks Trafficking routes:Syndicates use specialist Transit Import, a company owned by Vietnamese • Organised crime group members weighing a total of 10.5 tonnes. In October 2017, EIA transporters to send illegal wildlife to Vietnam and national Nguyen Tien Chuong. Media reports linked use/ownership of wildlife was able to view a sample of 500kg of tusks from one of switch routes to avoid detection following major this company to a previous ivory seizure which these consignments at a warehouse in Nhi Khe. seizures. At the time of publication, the busiest route had occurred at the main port in , EIA investigations was via Malaysia and Laos. Vietnam.15 Later that month, Kenyan officials at the port Son subsequently introduced the EIA investigators to two of Mombasa seized almost two tonnes of ivory from In April 2016, EIA began a two-year investigation individuals specialising in transporting ivory from Africa Corruption: Most of the higher-level members of the a container which had been recalled to the port after into Vietnamese-led syndicates trafficking ivory and to Vietnam via Laos, using both sea and air freight. In early Vietnamese syndicates boasted that their connections leaving for Cambodia. The ivory tusks were once again other illegal wildlife from Africa to Asia. Posing as December 2017, EIA met with Malaysian national Teo with corrupt officials facilitate the passage of their ivory found concealed inside hollowed-out logs. In December wildlife traders, EIA investigators sought to infiltrate Boon Ching and Vietnamese national Le Thi Thanh Hai in shipments. Teo Boon Ching, for example, claimed to 2017, at the Cambodian port of , police the different layers of ivory trafficking syndicates, Ho Chi Minh City. It soon emerged that these individuals be able to move ivory through Johor Port unhindered seized almost a tonne of ivory tusks hidden inside logs from lowly packers to well-connected transporters were cooperating on an active smuggling route. Teo because of his connections with senior customs officers. in three shipping containers. The consignment had and syndicate bosses. The aim was to build up an transported ivory and other wildlife that had arrived by arrived from Mozambique a year earlier but had not understanding of the methods used and the scale of shipping container to Johor Port in Malaysia onward to Sales: Ivory smuggled into Vietnam is mainly bought been claimed. The intended recipient was once again operations. Vientiane in Laos by airfreight. On arrival in Laos, Hai took by Chinese nationals, who purchase simply processed Cam Transit Import.16 over to transport the contraband by land into Vietnam. items such as jewellery and larger sections of raw tusks. Through a series of meetings in Mozambique, Vietnam The village of Nhi Khe in northern Vietnam remains an Organised crime indicators and Malaysia, EIA gained unique insights into the important ivory hub. Nguyen Tien Son, who operates out structure of Vietnamese ivory smuggling groups, the Detailed activity of the ivory traffickers encountered of Nhi Khe, claimed the village could sell up to 10 tonnes of The Vietnamese criminal syndicates investigated different functions within the groups, major trafficking by EIA are set out in the next section of this report. Key ivory a month, depending on supply. by EIA all presented characteristics of transnational routes and concealment methods, prices for ivory at modus operandi include: organised crime. Two of the more prolific traffickers, different stages in the supply chain and links to other EIA estimates that since 2015, the ivory traffickers Phan Chi and Le Thi Thanh Hai, for example, make use forms of wildlife crime. Structure: The Vietnamese-led wildlife crime syndicates identified during the course of this investigation have of fake companies and oversee multiple shipments of active in Africa conform to a loose hierarchical structure been linked to seizures totalling 6.3 tonnes of ivory and illicit wildlife products. These syndicates are organised Characteristics and modus operandi of roles and responsibilities, although there is also a 299kg of rhino horn. Detailed conversations between in structure and are enabled by corruption at the fluidity between the groups that allows for increased EIA investigators and traders also reveal that between highest levels. Most of the syndicates also make huge EIA’s investigation commenced in Maputo, Mozambique, cooperation and enables workers and transporters to January 2016 and November 2017 there were at least profits from their illicit trade. a hub for Vietnamese wildlife traffickers who originally switch affiliations. 22 successful shipments of ivory from Africa, with an came to the city to trade rhino horn sourced from estimated weight of 19 tonnes and potential revenue of The syndicates investigated for this report are neighbouring South Africa. EIA met with Nguyen Thanh Poaching and collection: Compared with Chinese $14 million. characterised by the following organised crime Trung, a well-connected Vietnamese individual who was ivory smuggling groups previously documented by indicators: running a Vietnamese restaurant. Trung was increasingly EIA, which usually rely on local associates in Africa to involved in the wildlife trade and had made efforts to organise poaching and ivory collection, the Vietnamese • Organised structure to poaching source both ivory and rhino horn from local poachers, syndicates are more involved at the lower level with

November 2016: EIA reports that July 2017: EIA exposes a March 2018: 3.5 tonnes of November 2016: Nhi Khe exposed Vietnam continues to play a significant criminal syndicate trafficking ivory seized in Singapore as a major trafficking hub17 18 role in wildlife trafficking20 ivory via Vietnam22 bound for Vietnam24

Novemer 2016: Vietnam hosts the 2016: Vietnam flagged July 2017: Second largest ivory high-level Conference on Illegal as one of the largest seizure in Vietnam (2.7 tonnes)23 Wildlife Trade in Hanoi 19 importers of illegal ivory21

8 Environmental Investigation Agency EXPOSING THE HYDRA 9 12 CHINA

13

14 The routes used BURMA VIETNAM 11 17 6 7 EIA has identified a number of major 16 routes in use by the Vietnamese syndicates to traffic ivory from LAOS African countries through Malaysia and Laos before reaching Vietnam for sale in-country or for onward 10 transportation into China. These 5 criminals make use of sea, air and land routes.

9 Mozambique is a major source of ivory. Other possible source countries include South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Angola, Malawi and Nigeria. Ivory is shipped out of Africa to Vietnam via Mozambican ports, with Pemba, Nacala and Beira as prominent ports of export. Although traders consider the direct route from Mozambique to Vietnam as difficult and risky, some traders do attempt this, in particular to Hai Phong port and smaller ports in the north of Vietnam.

Most syndicates, however, avoid the direct route and use transhipment locations to obscure the origin of the shipments and to ‘break the Key route’. Malaysia is one such key transhipment country. Ivory destined for Vietnam is routinely cleared by corrupt officials at Johor Port 18 and is transferred to Kuala Lumpur International Airport after being Routes CAMBODIA repackaged at a warehouse. The ivory is then transported to Laos’ By sea Wattay International Airport by air cargo before being transferred overland into Vietnam via the border gates at Nam Phao/Câu Treo. By air 2 EIA has also found that ivory may transit through Cambodia before By road 15 transportation overland into Vietnam. 1 8 China and Vietnam are key destinations for illicit ivory. Once in Vietnam, illicit ivory is processed, stored and/or sold across the country. Onward transportation into China can also take place by road through different border gates in Northern Vietnam.

Entry/exit points: Road border crossings Hubs for ivory processing, storage and sale 1. Sihanoukville port 10. Nam Phao and Cầu Treo road border 16. Nhi Khe 2. Phnom Penh container terminal 11. Mong Cai road border 17. Dong Ky

3. Johor Port 12. Lao Cai road border 18. Buon Ma Thuot City

4. Kuala Lumpur Int’l Airport 13. Tan Thanh border

5. Wattay Int’l Airport 14. Hoanh Mo border

6. Nội Bài Int’l Airport 15. Tay Ninh crossings

7. Hai Phong port

8. Cat Lai Port

FROM AFRICA 9. Tien Sa port

4 10 Environmental Investigation Agency MALAYSIA

3 The economics The art of concealment The Vietnamese syndicates highlighted in this The wildlife traffickers investigated for this report were report operate an illicit chain of supply. found to use a wide array of concealment methods to

Ivory is sourced, either in person or ivory across border points by air, sea or by facilitate the transportation of their illicit products. via intermediaries, in different African road. Once the illicit ivory consignments elephant range countries such as Malawi arrive in Vietnam, the syndicates will sell or Mozambique, at different prices the ivory at wholesale prices to buyers. The syndicates conceal ivory with legal goods such as timber, agricultural products or plastics to avoid detection. depending on the size of the ivory tusks/ Below is a break down of this chain of The following table provides more information about these concealment tactics. pieces. Depending on their role, the supply and associated ‘rates’ offered by syndicates will then use their connections syndicate members for their specialist to different customs authorities or clearing ‘services’. agents to facilitate the passage of the illicit

Legitimate concealed goods Wildlife Mode of transport

SYNDICATE SERVICE COSTS: Examples of rates charged by specialist transporters for smuggling ivory Agricultural products

Art objects Unknown

Nguyen Thanh Nguyen Tien Le Thi Thanh Teo Boon Nguyen Cong Trung Son Hai Ching Tho Bean/soy bean/peanut/green bean, red bean, cashew nuts Buffalo and cow horn Unknown

Drilling machine parts

Cambodia Fertilizer

Fish Unknown Laos Laos Laos Metal

Motorbike accessories Vietnam Vietnam Vietnam Malaysia Vietnam

SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE Plastics/plastic scraps Clearance into Sourcing ivory Clearance and Clearance Clearance and Vietnam and clearance transportation in Malaysia; transportation in Vietnam from Laos into repacking; from Laos and Soil sample Vietnam delivery to Laos Cambodia into Vietnam; delivery Stone Quartz

Timber

Wooden statues : Ivory Ivory Ivory Ivory Ivory $240 $417 $162 $145 $167 per kg per kg per kg per kg per kg

12 Environmental Investigation Agency EXPOSING THE HYDRA 13 Key player profiles PHAN CHI

He can arrange to have the illegal horn Role in syndicate: Head delivered to Vietnam from Mozambique in The Vietnamese-led wildlife crime syndicates active in Countries of operation: Vietnam, 48 hours, in passenger luggage on flights, Mozambique, South Africa typically from Nampula or Maputo airports Africa and Asia conform to a loose hierarchical structure Type of contraband: Ivory, rhino horn, in Mozambique, stopping-over in Nairobi, with clear roles and responsibilities. These organised canines, claws and destined for Hanoi. This method of smuggling is facilitated by his network criminal groups rely on corruption to facilitate the Summary: Phan Chi is a major ivory and of contacts in Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta trafficking of wildlife from Africa to Asia. Some of these rhino horn trafficker who leads an organised International Airport and Hanoi’s Noi Bai criminal syndicate of at least 10 individuals International Airport. syndicate members are already known to enforcement ('soldiers'). He claims to have been in the authorities yet continue to operate with impunity. wildlife trafficking business for over 10 While governments globally are failing to years, during which time he has travelled use specialised investigation techniques extensively between Vietnam and Africa. such as controlled deliveries to disrupt He has evaded any enforcement action by wildlife trafficking networks, criminal employing a number of soldiers at each level syndicates are one step ahead. Chi Tier 1: Syndicate head of the trade chain to deal with the necessary recounted how a GPS tracker had been sourcing, packing, transportation and sale of deployed to monitor a shipment of 23-25kg Oversees the group, recruits transporters and soldiers, builds connections with corrupt ivory and rhino horn. rhino horn from Mozambique to Vietnam officials and makes high profits. Said to be about a dozen separate syndicates operating via Doha. between Africa and Asia. When in Vietnam, he is based in Hanoi

but he also rents several houses in EIA target: Phan Chi Mozambique and boasts of owning a large mansion adjacent to a golf course in Pretoria, South Africa, where he lives comfortably on a ‘retirement’ visa issued by the South African authorities.25 Tier 2: Specialist transporters “EIA: Can you transport [illegal ivory] Chi stated that in 2015 he smuggled from port to warehouse [in Vietnam]? Able to move consignments across borders to end markets, close connections to corrupt nearly 13.5 tonnes of illegal ivory in Chi: To my warehouse, yes. officers and also engaged in direct trade in wildlife three separate shipments by sea from EIA: How about my warehouse, also in

Mozambique to Vietnam. He explained Vietnam? EIA target: Teo Boon Ching, Le Thi Thanh Hai and Nguyen Cong Tho Chi is well connected to Chi: It’s also okay as long as it’s in the Nguyen Van Trung, then that because he is prepared to pay a higher Vietnam’s Ambassador to price for ivory than his competitors, he territory. Mozambique, who has since EIA: As long as it’s in Vietnam? moved to take up a new is able to source as much as two tonnes post in June 2018 as Deputy of ivory a month. Although he buys ivory Chi: Yes.” Editor in Chief of Vietnam’s *** Tier 3: Independent operators Ministry of Foreign Affair’s from Mozambican suppliers, it is likely newspaper The World and sourced from elephants in other countries “Chi: I send a lot [of money] to Vietnam Vietnam Report. Chi claimed … normally will be two million per Not linked to a single syndicate, able to source ivory and other wildlife from Africa and that Trung had introduced as well, such as South Africa. sell in Asia him to high-ranking month. officials in the police and Some of Chi’s syndicate members are EIA: You need to send two million? Customs departments of the Chi: Per month. EIA target: Nguyen Tien Son and Nguyen Thanh Trung Government of Mozambique known to enforcement authorities. In July who he called on when he EIA: RMB? needed help. 2017, four of Chi’s soldiers were arrested in Maputo in possession of illegal claws and Chi: USD. canine teeth; only one of these individuals ” Tier 4: Workers was convicted, receiving a custodial sentence of 11 years. Employed by syndicates to work in source countries to collate, pack and despatch ivory shipments, also known as ‘soldiers’ or BLs (abbreviation of “buôn lậu”, Vietnamese for Chi also smuggles rhino horn from smuggler). Also includes ‘pilots’, recruited by syndicates to bring back contraband wildlife, Mozambique to Vietnam and is able to especially rhino horn, as passengers on international flights. source 100-150kg of rhino horn per month, stating that, at that time, he had 100kg of EIA target: Duong Van Dang rhino horn in Vietnam ready to be sold. Given that Mozambique lost its last wild rhino to poaching in 2013, it is almost certain that the horn is being procured from rhinos in neighbouring South Africa.

14 Environmental Investigation Agency EXPOSING THE HYDRA 15 NGUYEN THANH TRUNG NGUYEN TIEN SON

He advises them on how to arrange He provided copies of a number of Bills Role in syndicate: Independent operator shipments using passenger luggage. Trung Role in syndicate: Independent operator of Lading (BoL) allegedly used in the Countries of operation: Vietnam, stated that Nam’s advice to avoid being Countries of operation: Congo, Laos, Malaysia-Laos route to convince EIA Mozambique charged if detected authorities was to Mozambique, Nigeria, Vietnam investigators of his capabilities. On two of Type of contraband: Ivory, rhino horn, check in the passenger and the luggage Type of contraband: Ivory, rhino horn, the BoLs, the company name (consignee) canines, claws separately. Nam represents individuals pangolin scales in Laos was CFEP Food and Drinks, who have been arrested and charged likely to be a short-lived 'ghost' company Summary: Trung operates independently, with smuggling in South Africa and Summary: Nguyen Tien Son is reputedly used as a cover. He also claimed he had sourcing ivory and rhino horn from local Mozambique. He is also connected to Phan one of the biggest ivory and rhino horn received three tonnes of ivory over a Mozambican traders and either selling Chi and helped him when one of Chi’s wholesale traders in Nhi Khe, with a two-week period in October 2017 using it to the highest Vietnamese bidder in soldiers was arrested with rhino horn in processing factory operated by his wife. the Malaysia-Vietnam route as well as 1.5 Mozambique or shipping it to Vietnam Mozambique. EIA research confirms that He is directly involved in the sourcing tonnes of pangolin scales, all facilitated himself. He has worked with multiple Nam also arranged rhino hunting permits and export of ivory and rhino horn from by Teo Boon Ching. syndicates implicated in large-scale for Vietnamese hunters as well as CITES Africa. He has connections with a number organised trafficking from Mozambique export permits for rhino trophies from People in the village of other key actors, including Le Thi Thanh into Vietnam. South Africa to Vietnam. “can process 10 Hai and Teo Boon Ching who are operating EIA undercover ivory viewing tonnes per month clearance and transportation service into Trung stated that he is colluding with two (ivory). If there were and through Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, The ivory viewing took place in Nhi With the intention of directly sourcing employees of DHL in Mozambique who help 1,000 tonnes, they Malaysia and China. He also claims to have Khe village in October 2017 in a timber illegal ivory and cutting out any him send parcels containing rhino horn. could also cut them contacts who can provide clearance at Hai processing factory. Nhi Khe has been intermediaries, Trung claimed he travels up. If they can buy Phong Port, Noi Bai International Airport, well documented as a centre for illegal to remote areas himself to actively recruit On the Vietnam side, Trung stated it is and pay later, they Wattay International Airport, Johor Port ivory and ivory carving equipment was local villagers to poach elephants and safer to transport illegal goods to Vietnam will buy all up. Only and Kuala Lumpur International Airport. also observed in the factory. The ivory other wildlife in Mozambique and South than to China. He explained that he had 20-30 tonnes, they Son claimed to have successfully exported allegedly entered Vietnam in shipping Africa. Trung’s activities have led to a direct contacts at all the key border points in will use up within a shipments of ivory from Nigeria to Vietnam. containers and still had traces of human toll when one of the villagers he Vietnam and, given his transport network month. wax, suggesting this was part of the recruited was shot and killed. In February across Vietnam, he also claimed to be ” concealment process. 2017, Trung was operating out of Maputo In an attempt to expand his activities in able to smuggle goods into China from and had five employees on his payroll, Mozambique, he entered into a partnership Vietnam. He further alleged he had sold Owned by Son, EIA observed about including a Vietnamese ivory carver. with Nguyen Thanh Trung in early 2017. Little Vietnam – a ivory to some members of the former 500kg of illegal ivory (allegedly a He continues to scope new source areas Vietnamese restaurant in Vietnamese President’s delegation during portion of a further 1.5 tonnes being Maputo previously owned Trung stated that it was “very simple” to and products and recently conducted a by Trung which helped him their visit to Mozambique in March 2016. stored in a Hanoi warehouse) which smuggle ivory out of Mozambique: trial export of goods from Nigeria and to branch into the ivory and Son offered at an initial selling price rhino horn trade. clearance of 20 tonnes of pangolin scales As with Phan Chi, Trung also claimed of $660/kg although he was prepared Step 1: Set up an import/export company from Malaysia in October 2017. to have connections with the then- to reduce the price to $658/kg. Larger for trading in legal commodities under the Vietnamese Ambassador to Mozambique, solid pieces were offered at $748/kg. name of a local Mozambican. Son claims to be able to transport ivory stating he had been advised by the Based on the lower prices, the cost into Vietnam through Laos and is prepared Ambassador to be more careful because he of the total two tonnes would be in Step 2: Load the shipping containers to guarantee $387/kg for the goods. He was being watched by INTERPOL. the region of $1.3 million. Son did not with the contraband, using the name of collaborates with Le Thi Thanh Hai, who attend the viewing but delegated the the local company on paperwork and operates the Laotian route, involving arrangements to Nguyen Ba Chien (also fraudulently declaring the contents as legal Trung: To be honest, it’s easy to get In November 2017, along clearance at Wattay International Airport “ known as “Trung”, but likely to be a fake commodities. things out from here [Mozambique]. with three other Vietnamese in Vientiane and land transportation nationals, Chien was name). There should not be any problems. You sentenced to 20 months through Laos-Vietnam border gates and Negotiate a ‘price’ with the can get it out in anyway … It’s simple to imprisonment for his role onward transportation to warehouses in Step 3: in the investment and concerned customs officer in Mozambique. go from here.” transportation of 423kg of Vietnam. Son’s role includes providing *** ivory in Hanoi in January access to buyers in Vietnam as well 2017.1 Step 4: Pay the agreed bribe to the customs Trung: If things run smoothly, this as introducing potential clients to his officer at the chosen port of exit in [wildlife trafficking] business makes transportation service. He may also Mozambique so the containers with the more profit than trading drugs. negotiate with the trader to buy the goods contraband are exported quickly without ” himself to augment his wholesale trade. being checked. Son also utilises Malaysia as a When any of the Vietnamese run into transhipment route in partnership with a trouble, they contact a Vietnamese lawyer Malaysian national, Teo Boon Ching, who based in South Africa called Nam (Le Hoai provides clearance for goods from Africa Nam). According to Trung, Nam provides and then onwards into Laos by air cargo. ‘legal support’ for Vietnamese syndicates.

16 Environmental Investigation Agency EXPOSING THE HYDRA 17 LE THI THANH HAI TEO BOON CHING Teo is also said to offer a direct charter for the guarantee deposit. She charges service to Hanoi for the same price. He about $160/kg for her services, which Role in syndicate: Specialist transporter Role in syndicate: Specialist transporter claims to have repeatedly smuggled Countries of operation: Laos, Vietnam, include clearance costs at Laos Airport Countries of operation: Malaysia at least six tonnes of pangolins from Cambodia and the Laos/Vietnam border, as well as Type of contraband: Ivory, rhino horn Malaysia to China. He also claims to have Type of contraband: Ivory, rhino horn, transportation costs to Hanoi. provided clearance for approximately 80 pangolin scales Summary: Malaysian national Teo Boon containers with only one seizure since he Bribery, or the payment of 'taxes', are a Ching has been involved in the wildlife started operations. Summary: Le Thi Thanh Hai is a Vietnamese feature throughout Hai’s trade route, with trade for two decades with business national, based in Ha Tinh province near the alleged links to Vietnamese officials at links in Guangzhou, China and , Teo may have played a key role in the Cầu Treo gate on the border of Vietnam and both provincial and district level to ensure Thailand. He operates a transportation recovery of two shipments of pangolin Laos. She heads a transportation network the smooth movement of goods along the service for illicit wildlife products from scales linked to the seizure of 7.2 tonnes operating routes for illicit wildlife products. trade route. Johor in Malaysia on to other destinations of ivory in Hong Kong in July 2017, the Despite serving a custodial sentence of one including Laos and China.. world’s largest ivory seizure. year (approximately 20 years ago) for her She claims to have the monopoly over involvement in a seizure of three tonnes of the Laotian route, maintaining she is the According to Teo, shipments seized in Teo uses Malaysia-based companies to the Hong Kong seizure shared the same pangolin, she has continued her involvement only one able to provide the clearance receive shipping containers from Africa. in the illicit wildlife trade since her release. service with her Laotian partner. Despite consignor in Malaysia. Although Teo was not initially involved in these shipments, Hai’s assertions, there is another company He provides concealment and packing a Xianyou-based shareholder of the goods involved in the operation, although the For the past decade, Hai has been instructions to clients to smuggle ivory: named Lin, asked for Teo’s assistance to route is unreliable with some goods getting operating a route with a Malaysian • at least eight tonnes of beans or peanuts recover further shipments which were stuck at Wattay International Airport. for a 20-foot container national, Teo Boon Ching, to facilitate the likely to be seized. Teo made requests • the ivory to be covered with nylon bags illicit movement of goods from Africa to to the originating country, believed to Hai also claimed she has two individuals • the filler is packed between two layers of Johor Port, Malaysia, and on to Wattay be Nigeria, and successfully re-routed who can clear containers in Cambodia in bags to ensure the bags don’t break. International Airport in Laos via air cargo. the shipments from Sabah to Johor. The advance of transportation into Vietnam She has a partnership with an unknown container of pangolin scales was repacked by road. One of these is a Vietnamese He advises the owners of the ivory to buy male who provides clearance for illicit in Johor and successfully sent to China. national who goes by the nickname rather than rent containers to reduce goods and land transportation to the Hung ‘Lop’, also known by Son. The inspection risks should the shipment be Teo was unable, however, to get four other Laos-Vietnam border gate. This individual second individual, who is married to a delayed or the rental agreement expires. containers of ivory and pangolin scales runs a company which offers clearance Vietnamese national, is a former head of re-routed and they were seized by Sabah services and allegedly uses the influence Once the ivory shipment enters Malaysia, Sihanoukville’s province border guard. Port Authorities in 2017. Lin later revealed of a relative who holds the post of Teo arranges for the owner to enter the to Teo that he was joint owner of the Deputy Chief of the Department of Taxes. customs warehouse at Johor Port to verify Hong Kong seizure, along with another According to Hai, this company also has the goods and quantity. Once cleared, individual named Ou. EIA believes that Ou Images of ivory packed in the consignment is moved to Teo’s own bags sent by Le Thi Thanh its own scanner and scales at the airport. is Ou Guanchao, the uncle of Ou Haiqiang Hai. I also have to spend some ‘yard warehouse for repacking into multiple – both of whom were named in EIA’s 2017 Goods are exchanged at a duty-free “money’. standard air cargo packages for onward report The Shuidong Connection as having warehouse between the borders of Laos “Yard money”” is understood to be the fee to clear the transportation. a significant role in the ivory trade. shipment out of a cargo terminal. Teo Boon Ching was arrested and Vietnam. Once the goods have in Thailand in March 2015 arrived at the warehouse they are checked along with his Thai partner Goods destined for Laos are sent by air Sririchai Sridanont for cargo from Kuala Lumpur International by Hai or one of her soldiers and then In general, my group of vehicles possession of 135kg of African Airport on Air Asia flights, which loaded onto Vietnamese vehicles. They “always have to pay “law money” … elephant ivory. Despite his arrest he evaded prosecution operates the only direct service to Wattay are then transported by the Vietnamese when it’s on the road, the “law” must and continues his wildlife International Airport from Malaysia. Teo’s be covered. As long as it’s on the route, smuggling exploits. He is transportation networks which control connections at Johor customs let the illicit money needs to be given. implicated in a recent rhino the route and are responsible for moving horn seizure in August 2018. cargo through for a fee. Teo’s transport the goods into Vietnam. These networks ” “Cover the law” is verbatim translation of Vietnamese fees are $145/kg and $100/kg for ivory and “cover the border” by making the necessary “bao luật”, which means that Hai has protection of the pangolin scales respectively, including payments to clear customs and border authorities in this area who have been paid to allow clearance at Johor Port and Kuala Lumpur her operating the transportation business. control. Once inside Vietnam, the goods International Airport as well as repacking are transferred to Hai’s fleet of luxury cars and delivery to Laos. before delivery to the designated owner. Teo’s relationship with Le Thi Thanh Hai is Hai also provides a guarantee for her key to successful clearance in Laos. Once services. When she is able to view the everything has been repackaged and goods, she will provide a payment up loaded onto the plane to Laos, Teo sends front to the owner as a guarantee of the BoL to Hai. Teo’s role in the trade route delivery. If she only sees the BoL, then she then ends. goes through an intermediary in Hanoi

18 Environmental Investigation Agency EXPOSING THE HYDRA 19 NGUYEN CONG THO DUONG VAN DANG

and inviting them to Laos to view the contents as exports of legitimate goods Role in syndicate: Specialist transporter goods. As his business expanded, he also Role in syndicate: Worker (quartz or timber). Countries of operation: Cambodia, Laos, started visiting Africa to purchase ivory Countries of operation: Mozambique, Vietnam, Nigeria more cheaply at source. In late 2016, Tho Vietnam In February 2016, following an order Type of contraband: Ivory, rhino horn travelled to Nigeria to smuggle ivory Type of contraband: Ivory from Chien, Dang and another associate from Nigeria to Da Nang’s Tien Sa Port in accompanied three suitcases containing Summary: Tho reportedly hails from a Vietnam. He stated this ivory shipment Summary: Dang is an expert in using about 100kg of rhino horn from family of wildlife smugglers and became contained 'yellow ivory' (ivory sourced sophisticated methods to conceal ivory Mozambique to Vietnam. Dang stated he involved in the family business when he from endangered forest elephants) and and rhino horn in shipments from Africa was specifically directed not to check in was a university student, helping his uncle was sourced in Cameroon. The Customs to Vietnam and was taught the tricks of the suitcase himself at the airport; instead, transport tiger and other illegal wildlife officer who facilitated clearance in the trade by his brother, who has been in the luggage was checked in by another products. After his uncle’s ‘retirement’, Tho Vietnam was a relative. the business for several years. person but tagged with the name and became a prominent wildlife trafficker, details of Dang. On arrival at the airport claiming to have smuggled at least Tho also stated that his operation in in Hanoi, Dang and his colleague picked Dang provides his packing services 100 tonnes of ivory since 2014 using a Nigeria is facilitated by his contact, who up the suitcases by checking the luggage on a freelance basis, although he was number of different routes with the final previously worked at the Nnamdi Azikiwe codes and he was directed to exit through a previously employed by Nguyen Mau destination being Vietnam. International Airport in Nigeria’s capital specified gate at the airport. With help from Chien, the previously mentioned wildlife city Abuja. He added he was planning contacts at the airports in Mozambique trafficker, in packing ivory in Pemba and to visit Mozambique to start trading and Hanoi, Dang’s boss was clearing three EIA’s engagement with Tho confirmed that Maputo in Mozambique. rhino horn. shipments of rhino horn per week with demand for ivory in Vietnam is massive three to four suitcases in each shipment. and that enforcement efforts were largely A key facilitator for trafficking ivory on cosmetic. For example, in August 2017 Tho a large scale, Dang is only brought in to stated that despite raids of ivory shops begin the work of packing when at least in Nhi Khe, a village which is well known 100-200kg of ivory has been collected. for ivory carving, continues to consume Dang claimed to have smuggled ivory around three tonnes of ivory a month. It Tho: My profession is transportation, so and rhino horn out of Mozambique Dang: I went to Mozambique, I stayed also appears that some of the trafficking “I know almost every trader in the north concealed in materials such as stone/ “with people of the house (syndicate). groups originally based in Nhi Khe have [in Vietnam], most of the big players. quartz (most likely imported from South There were people to buy the goods simply moved to other areas in Vietnam *** Africa) or timber. When he used stone, and put them in warehouse. I just went Tho runs a successful such as Dong Ky, about an hour’s drive from Tho: Everyone wants money, but money Dang explained, it was essential to procure to the warehouse to pack and put the ivory smuggling operation Nhi Khe. Tho also stated that, for security is not everything. The brand name is silicone moulds of different shapes. These into Laos and onwards goods into stone. After a month, when to Vietnam. He is very purposes, he stores his best-quality ivory more important. That we can survive is were then sent to Mozambique from we packed enough goods, they would confident about clearing tusks in a warehouse in Dong Ky. thanks to our customers. Vietnam, although Dang said he could also ivory shipments through the send the container out, but that was Vientiane airport in Laos to ” make these moulds in Mozambique if the their business. My work is only packing Vietnam and provided the Tho successfully runs the Laos-Vietnam required materials were available. above BoL to demonstrate he then returning home – how they send successfully smuggled ivory route, claiming he can clear at least one the container is the responsibility of into Laos from Malaysia ivory shipment (about 500kg) a week Dang described the process in significant by claiming it contained other people not mine. drilling equipment on the through Wattay International airport and detail. The ivory or rhino horn is first *** paperwork. have it transported across the border dipped into melted wax to create a EIA: How long would it take you to pack into Vietnam. In order to provide a more protective layer, then – using the moulds one tonne of goods? secure service for his clients, Tho verifies and composite materials such as stone, Dang: If there are enough goods, it only himself that the shipment contains ivory. fibre glass or plaster – the ivory or horn takes 10 days. Tho also provides transport services for is concealed inside what appears to be a ” the Cambodia-Vietnam route, although large single piece of stone. One tonne of he complained that this route was not ivory can be concealed in 30 ‘stones’. The very stable. It would also appear that Tho ’stones’ concealing ivory are then placed is working in partnership with a man along with real stones into large crates named Cuong who operates the Malaysia- and moved to the container loading area. Vietnam route using fishing boats With timber, logs are hollowed out and the whereby goods are transferred at sea from ivory or rhino horn is placed in the hollow a Malaysian boat to a Vietnamese before before the logs are sealed and painted. docking at the Vietnamese mainland. Dang’s preference is to use the timber concealment method as it is cheaper than Tho started buying ivory from his quartz and he claimed timber containers customers, for whom he had previously were not checked by authorities in arranged transport services, sending Pemba port. Whichever concealment photos of the ivory to prospective buyers method used, the paperwork declares the

20 Environmental Investigation Agency EXPOSING THE HYDRA 21 RECOMMENDATIONS REFERENCES

1. Save the Elephants, Vietnam’s Illegal Ivory Trade Threatens Africa’s Elephants, 9 July 2016. EIA urges Vietnam, Mozambique, South Africa, 2. UNCOMTRADE data. Laos, Malaysia and Cambodia to strengthen 3. Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index 2017. 4. UN Office on Drugs and Crime, ICCWC Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit Report for Vietnam, 2015. international co-operation and conduct a 5. Education for Nature Vietnam, Alleged Rhino Horn Kingpin Arrested, 4 May 2017. thorough investigation into the information 6. Daniel Stiles, ‘’An assessment of the illegal ivory trade in Viet Nam’’, TRAFFIC, available from: http://www.trafficj. org/publication/08_Assessment_illegal_ivory_trade_VietNam.pdf (last accessed 08/08/2018). presented in this report, which was also 7. TRAFFIC Bulletin Vol. 22 No. 2, June 2009; The tusks were seized at Dinh Vu Port from a container carrying previously provided as confidential briefing plastic waste. 8. WWF Wildlife Crime ScoreCard, available from: http://wwf.panda.org/_core/general. documents to enforcement authorities. cfc?method=getOriginalImage&uImgID=%26%2AR%2C%28%22NW4%0A (last accessed 08/08/2018). 9. WCS, March 2012, ‘’In Plain Sight: An Analysis of Transnational Wildlife Crimes in Quang Ninh Province, Viet Nam’’. ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS 10. National Geographic, Locating Suspected Kingpin in Vietnam, 9 November 2014. 11. Viet Nam News, Eight tonnes of smuggled wildlife products seized, August 27, 2015 12. Business Daily Africa, Two in court over Sh91m ivory seized at Mombasa port, October 1, 2015. FOR VIETNAM: FOR SOUTH AFRICA 13. CITES, CoP17 Doc. 57.6 (Rev. 1), available online at: https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/cop/17/WorkingDocs/E- AND MOZAMBIQUE: CoP17-57-06-R1.pdf (last accessed 13/08/2018). • Investigate and prosecute offenders 14. VOA, Togo seizes nearly 4 tons of ivory headed for Vietnam, February 3, 2014; The ivory had been declared as involved in the corruption that enables • Conduct a thorough investigation cashew nuts. wildlife trafficking in Vietnam, including of offences resulting in prosecution 15. The Phnom Penh Post, Ivory Bust Firm Has History, 23 December 2016. at key entry and exit points for ivory under a range of laws, including 16. Khmer Times, Cambodia Police Seize Nearly One Tonne of Ivory Shipped from Mozambique, 5 December 2017. such as airports, ports and land immigration and customs laws, in 17. WJC Bulletin, ‘’Wildlife Justice Commission Public Hearing: Viet Nam Investigation the Hague, the Netherlands, crossings relation to Vietnamese criminal 14-15 November 2016’’, available from: http://enb.iisd.org/download/pdf/sd/enbplus211num1e.pdf (last accessed syndicates implicated in wildlife 08/08/2018); WJC uncovered an industrial scale crime hub dealing in wildlife, including ivory, worth US$53.1 • Investigate the disappearance or trafficking million in Nhi Khe. leakage into trade of seized ivory held by 18. Al Jazeera, Exclusive: Vietnam’s ‘double standards’ in ivory trade, November 14, 2016; The exclusive exposed Government authorities and prosecute • Collaborate with the private sector Vietnam’s ‘double standards’ in light of the Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade, hosted by the Vietnamese corrupt players involved (freight forwarding companies, government in Hanoi in 2016. airlines and courier companies) to 19. Hanoi Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade, available online at: http://iwthanoi.vn/ (last accessed 13/08/2018). • Ensure effective inter-agency ensure that effective systems are 20. EIA, ‘’Time for Action: End the criminality and corruption fuelling wildlife crime,’’ available online at: https://eia- cooperation and intelligence-led being deployed to detect and stop international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIATime-for-Action-FINAL-1.pdf (last accessed 08/08/2018). enforcement to disrupt and convict ivory and rhino horn trafficking 21. Save the Elephants, ‘’Vietnam’s Illegal Ivory Trade Threatens Africa’s Elephants’’, available online at: http:// organised ivory trafficking networks savetheelephants.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2016_VietnamReportFINAL.pdf (last accessed 08/08/2018); FOR ALL RELEVANT COUNTRIES The report exposed an extensive illegal internal ivoryprocessing and carving business. • Improve international cooperation (for 22. EIA, ‘’The Shuidong Connection: Exposing the Global Hub of the Illegal Wildlife Trade’’, available online at: example, through extradition, evidence- • Increase detection of ivory and other https://eia-international.org/report/shuidong-connectionexposing-global-hub-illegal-ivory-trade (last accessed sharing and use of controlled deliveries) wildlife smuggling at key entry and exit 13/08/2018). with relevant source, transit and points highlighted on page 10-11 of this 23. PhysOrg, Three tonnes of ivory seized in Vietnam, July 9, 2017. destination countries such as Angola, report 24. VNExpress, Singapore seizes 3.5 tons of ivory en route to Vietnam, March 8, 2018; The ivory had been shipped China, Laos, Malaysia and Mozambique from Nigeria. • Eliminate the high profits associated 25. According to information provided by the Government of South Africa, a person who wishes to retire in South • Increase capacity to investigate illegal with wildlfie trafficking, by conducting Africa may apply for a “retired person visa”, provided that he or she receives at least R37,000 per month from ivory and other wildlife trade through financial investigations that result in a pension fund or an irrevocable retirement annuity or has a net worth or a combination of assets realising online/social media channels, including the seizure of assets and proceeds of a minimum monthly income of R37,000. South African Department of Home Affairs. Types of Temporary WeChat, Zalo and Facebook crime (for example cash, property, and Residency Visas. [Online]. Available from: dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/types-of-temporary- vehicles) permits (last accessed: 03/08/2018). • Increase awareness among key stakeholders such as customs authorities, airlines, and shipping companies regarding the modus operandi of wildlife trafficking syndicates.

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