South African police detain Thai man over poaching links

JOHANNESBURG, November 4, 2011 (AFP) - South African officials on Friday detained a Thai man they believe is linked to a poaching ring accused of hiring prostitutes to smuggle rhino horns out of the country, a spokesman said.

The South African Revenue Service said police and customs officials believe the man is part of a poaching syndicate they say is run by Thai national Chumlong Lemtongthai, who is charged with organising rhino poaching expeditions masked as legal trophy hunts.

"The suspect apprehended this morning is suspected to be an associate of the one who is in custody, Chumlong, who is standing trial. They, we believe, are two very central figures in an international rhino poaching syndicate," revenue service spokesman Adrian Lackay told AFP.

He said officials cannot release the suspect's name until he is formally arrested.

The man, who has a previous conviction in South Africa for smuggling lion bones and other illegal animal products, was trying to enter the country on a fake passport, Lackay said.

The revenue authority says Chumlong, who has twice been denied bail and is awaiting trial in Johannesburg, would obtain trophy hunting permits then buy the rhinos' horns from the hunters for an average 65,000 rand ($8,260, 5,980 euros) per kilogramme and send them overseas.

Local media report that Chumlong would pay friends, strippers and prostitutes to pose as hunters and export the horns under trophy permits, a limited number of which are issued each year.

Wildlife watchdogs say a rhino horn currently fetches up to half a million dollars on the black market, driven by booming demand in Asia, where it is used in medicinal treatments.

Newspaper reports said Chumlong made more than $8.9 million in profit on 40 rhino horns.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-11-04

Cut their tiny little man-parts off and mount them as trophies. The sick f%*s deserve to die, no matter where from...

Edited November 4, 201114 yr by ParadiseLost

we take care of people like this down there in the bayou

we aint got no poachin except for poached gator eggs

Cut their tiny little man-parts off and mount them as trophies. The sick f%*s deserve to die, no matter where from...

Where's all the money this piece of shit made from all those dead rhinos. Must be somewhere in a bank?

No mercy and i hope the S.A. government ties him up for years.

Cut their tiny little man-parts off and mount them as trophies. The sick f%*s deserve to die, no matter where from...

Couldn’t agree more.

These people are taking something extremely precious away from our world that can never be replaced and also depriving our future generations of these magnificent animals that have as much rights to survive as we do.

I really do believe that in these cases of bringing a species of mammal, near or to complete extinction (other than those that are classified as vermin) does justify imposing the death penalty.

The heartsore thing is that they believe the Rhino horn has some magical sexual powers. Science have proved this to be rubbish, so all the poor Rhino;s are being killed for nothing

The heartsore thing is that they believe the Rhino horn has some magical sexual powers. Science have proved this to be rubbish, so all the poor Rhino;s are being killed for nothing

They believe in that magical power,just because horn sticks up.There is another believe - about powers of papaya fruit - when you see this fruit on tree it looks like nice,full hanging tit?

So,they believe,that drinking papaya with milk will give your GF big tits of the same shape.This is very easy to verify - papayas are very cheap and available,no investments are necessary.

I believe,that all of oriental,traditional medcine is the collection of such BS:tiger bones?poor tigers:very,very expensive tonics they make? - for people who believe in power of money:more you pay-better it is.

How to verify story about rhino horn without spending millions? - ask women about chinese men...

In Chinese medicine rhino horn isn't used for boners, it's used to cure fevers. It still doesn't work, but that is why the demand for rhino horn is still so strong after viagra. People will try anything to save a dieing loved one and are willing to pay huge sums for a miracle cure.

In Chinese medicine rhino horn isn't used for boners, it's used to cure fevers. It still doesn't work, but that is why the demand for rhino horn is still so strong after viagra. People will try anything to save a dieing loved one and are willing to pay huge sums for a miracle cure.

Do they get a refund when it doesn't work?

make vidoe of the guy being fed too the lions ,and show it too the whole of the world.

the cash he made should be used for the wildlife parks protection, from this type of mercanery !

Cut their tiny little man-parts off and mount them as trophies. The sick f%*s deserve to die, no matter where from...

Couldn't agree more.

These people are taking something extremely precious away from our world that can never be replaced and also depriving our future generations of these magnificent animals that have as much rights to survive as we do.

I really do believe that in these cases of bringing a species of mammal, near or to complete extinction (other than those that are classified as vermin) does justify imposing the death penalty.

+1

I agree with you whole heartedly on this one.

P.S not Thai bashing I don't care where the person is from.

I really do believe that in these cases of bringing a species of mammal, near or to complete extinction (other than those that are classified as vermin) does justify imposing the death penalty.

Although I agree with your sentiment, think you are being just a wee bit hypocritical.....after who decides what is vermin and what is not....one could argue someone living in the african bush could say elephant are vermin, as are baboons. hyena's etc.

Cut their tiny little man-parts off and mount them as trophies. The sick f%*s deserve to die, no matter where from...

Couldn't agree more.

These people are taking something extremely precious away from our world that can never be replaced and also depriving our future generations of these magnificent animals that have as much rights to survive as we do.

I really do believe that in these cases of bringing a species of mammal, near or to complete extinction (other than those that are classified as vermin) does justify imposing the death penalty.

Your post is not only species-ist, but class-ist and order-ist as well. "Ben, the two of us need look no more..........................."

To Feed the Gluttony of Humanity we must continue to poach innocent animals in there natural habitats! These men should be detained in a grave and beaten in chains! Why are scumbags like him alive in this day in age?