Thai man arrested in S. Africa over alleged rhino poaching

JOHANNESBURG, March 28, 2012 (AFP) - A Thai man has been arrested at a Johannesburg casino in connection with a rhino poaching syndicate accused of hiring prostitutes to smuggle rhino horns, a spokesman said Tuesday.

"He is the fourth suspect in the alleged criminal syndicate," said Adrian Lackay, spokesman for the South African Revenue Service.

The suspect's name cannot be revealed until he appears in court on Wednesday, but he is believed to have played a role in a scam run by Thai national Chumlong Lemtongthai, who was charged last year with poaching rhinos on bogus trophy hunts.

"At the moment, charges are still being formulated" with prosecutors, Lackay said.

The latest suspect was arrested Tuesday at the Emperor's Palace casino near Johannesburg's main airport, with 21,000 rand ($2,770, 2,080 euros) found on him.

A third Thai national and a South African farmer have already been charged in connection with the case.

The revenue authority says Chumlong, who is awaiting trial in Johannesburg, would obtain trophy hunting permits and then buy the rhino horns from the hunters to ship 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.

The animals' distinctive horns are hacked off to be smuggled to the lucrative Asian black market, where the fingernail-like substance is falsely believed to have powerful healing properties.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-03-28

prostitutes to smuggle rhino horns

The methodology of which I'd rather not know.

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They issue rhino horn trophy permits? Hmmmm....

prostitutes to smuggle rhino horns

The methodology of which I'd rather not know.

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I heard of women smuggle drug (pack in condoms) in their private part.

But horns, that must make them horny.

prostitutes to smuggle rhino horns

The methodology of which I'd rather not know.

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Anyone want to dig deep to find out?

The best thing to do with this turd is to take it out to Kruger National Park and dump him within half a kilo of a pride of lions and let him try and walk out alone.

The best thing to do with this turd is to take it out to Kruger National Park and dump him within half a kilo of a pride of lions and let him try and walk out alone.

Remember David in the lion den.

If this man walk out alive, he will be regarded as a Saint.

"...strippers and prostitutes to pose as hunters..."

Well, I suppose they have had more than enough practice and expertise...

The best thing to do with this turd is to take it out to Kruger National Park and dump him within half a kilo of a pride of lions and let him try and walk out alone.

Remember David in the lion den.

If this man walk out alive, he will be regarded as a Saint.

I believe the legendary lion's den was somewhat smaller than Kruger Park.

The best thing to do with this turd is to take it out to Kruger National Park and dump him within half a kilo of a pride of lions and let him try and walk out alone.

I agree........ reminds me of the kid on a game drive asking his dad, "why is one lion licking the other lion's ass???"

Father replied "the lion has just eaten a poacher and is trying to get the taste out of its mouth".

The suspect may truly get the "horn" in court

It's these kinds of articles that so regularly put the infamous visa difficulties for Thais into immediate perspective. There was another articles six months ago with the exact same headline; other posters have references it because prostitutes were being used to transport the animal contraband. Unbelievable.

Now these guys will have a chance to learn Afrikaans while sitting in a squalid South African prison.

I'm confused. How'd they get the rhinos in the saucepan?