Law enforcement agency Europol said several arrests have been made in a bid to smash an Irish syndicate involved in the illegal trade of rhino horn.
The agency warned countries that they should be on alert for the gang which targets auction houses, museums and has allegedly sourced fresh horns to be harvested in South Africa.
Europol’s Patrick Byrne said. “These people…use violence and intimidation and they do not care about the product or how they gain it. They are just in it for criminal profits.”
The gang has allegedly been involved in drug smuggling and money laundering reaching from America to China.
South Africa lost over 300 rhino to poachers in 2010 and is fast approaching that number in 2011.
Source: Eyewitness News (SA)
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