The crime family at the centre of Asia's animal trafficking network

Nick Davies and Oliver Holmes

 

Bach brothers based in Vietnam and Thailand are responsible for smuggling thousands of tonnes of elephant ivory, rhino horn and other endangered species

 

There is a simple reason why there is always trouble in Nakhon Phanom. It is the reason why the US air force came here during the Vietnam war, and the reason why this dull and dusty town in north-east Thailand now serves as a primary gateway on the global animal trafficking highway. It is all to do with geography.

 

Nakhon Phanom, population 30,000, sits on the western bank of the Mekong river and is directly opposite the shortest route across Laos, on the other side of the river, and into Vietnam.

 

For the US air force it was the closest allied territory to Hanoi, 380km (236 miles) away as the bomber flies. For the wildlife traffickers, it is the perfect place for business. To the west, Thailand has some of the best air and sea connections in South East Asia; and to the east, across the narrow strip of Laos, are the markets of Vietnam and China, bursting with the wealth of their new economies and hungry for the flesh, skin, claws and bones of exotic wildlife.

 

Full story: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/26/bach-brothers-elephant-ivory-asias-animal-trafficking-network

 

-- The Guardian 2016-09-27

And as the article says, they are kingpins due to strong political connections.

Thais, love elephant?

How about starting the illegal trade of poacher and black market trader pelt trade?

Yep we know who they are we know where they operate from and we know to leave them alone to carry out their dirty buisness and big cash flow !

• Tomorrow: the political corruption behind the Asian connection
• Could be interesting

I enjoyed reading that article yesterday in the Guardian and thinking to myself how informative and revealing it was,unfortunately this being Thailand that in depth and critical reporting will have no effect on those indulging in this lucrative vile trade so we may as well forget about.

 

Nice try though from the Guardian.

Yeah, madmitch. This is a great yarn and part 2 is eagerly awaited.

2 minutes ago, stoneyboy said:

I enjoyed reading that article yesterday in the Guardian and thinking to myself how informative and revealing it was,unfortunately this being Thailand that in depth and critical reporting will have no effect on those indulging in this lucrative vile trade so we may as well forget about.

 

Nice try though from the Guardian.

The article on the human trafficking had a huge impact.  It's far from perfect, but far better than it was before everything was exposed.

It just shows you how difficult it is bring these people to justice.  If given a choice, would rather see these people prosecuted over drug dealers.  And why to criminal scum bags love being photographed without their shirts ?

Not to place a to fine line on this subject , Thailand isn't the only country coming to terms with the ivory trade the UK has just woken up this week , as long as the Hi So control this sector there will only be token efforts to eradicate illegal poaching, until firm actions from the UN like trade embargos are instituted, however they must also look at other countries as well not just Thailand, meanwhile  we are wasting drinking time on this subject it's been cropping up for decades..........................................

A brilliant if dispiriting report. Note the AMLO order for one police-connected Thai trafficker to hand over $35 million of crime proceeds was "revoked this year."

 

Hmmm. How's that corruption clampdown coming along?

...another case of 'known criminals'....

 

...decades in operation.......

 

...nothing done about it.....

 

....wow....

 

 

.....go bust some Domino players....

 

The follow up article mainly relates to Laos.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/27/revealed-how-senior-laos-officials-cut-deals-with-animal-traffickers

The age old  ''Bounty''system has proven effective throughout history in getting rid of the undesirables.  Payment made on presentation of proof,  of mission accomplished. Sometimes it takes a year or more but it seems to be accepted by many who get tired of ineffective law enforcement.

 

It must at least slow the lawbreakers down, just having to hire so many looking over their shoulder to protect their back, as well as advertising to the people out there who do this type of business they need protection from, for a living.

2 hours ago, slapout said:

The age old  ''Bounty''system has proven effective throughout history in getting rid of the undesirables.  Payment made on presentation of proof,  of mission accomplished. Sometimes it takes a year or more but it seems to be accepted by many who get tired of ineffective law enforcement.

 

It must at least slow the lawbreakers down, just having to hire so many looking over their shoulder to protect their back, as well as advertising to the people out there who do this type of business they need protection from, for a living.

You beat me to it. Put a bounty on the head of these two and all known poachers. As a society we are becoming to complacent about such things as our wild life and sea mammals and fish just fade away. I see little reason why the Tokyo fish market wants to move to a larger location. In the future there will be no fish to sell at any price. 

An old friend of mine was set up and jailed for exposing this barbaric trade.

 

https://www.change.org/p/foreign-affairs-division-please-set-chatchaya-yuyee-cuesta-ramos-free

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/FREEYUYEEAlissaIntusmith/

Edited September 28, 20169 yr by Johnniey

An off topic post has been removed.