Two ivory traffickers arrested and sentenced to Dakar

  It's done! The Government of Senegal has sanctioned for the first time the illegal trade in protected species. The country and launched in the fight against transnational organized crime. On Tuesday, May 20, 2014, when both composed of the Criminal Investigation Division spreads (Dic), Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development and Project SALF two traffickers in possession of 388 elephant ivory objects were arrested in flagrante delicto. The objects are mainly ivory jewelery.
This type of action is a first of its kind between Senegal and in line with the establishment of a partnership between the State and a network of international partners specialized in the field, the project SALF (Senegal-Application of Wildlife Act) and EAGLE network (Eco-Activist for Governance and Law Enforcement), which operates in many African states.

Eloi SIAKOU Sokoto, dealer Ivorian nationality was arrested in flagrante delicto in the first raid in possession of a large quantity of ivory. Then, less than an hour later, the mixed team was redeployed to carry out the arrest of a second dealer, Modou Sarr, a provider Siakou and a part owner of the 388 objects of ivory seized . After hearing and put in custody, they were brought before the Court of Dakar and put under principal deposit awaiting trial. The value of the seized goods is about 6 million CFA francs in a system where the ivory kg is sold for $ 2000 on the international market.

Professionals, suspicious and well connected internationally, Côte d'Ivoire to France via the USA, they belong to networks dealeurs found in the illegal trade of protected species. The investigation carried out on the activities of these networks has to understand the procedures and their fears arrest modes.
Elephants are fully protected in Senegal. Possession, distribution and sale of elephant trophies are prohibited by Article L.32 of the Code of hunting and wildlife protection law n ° 86-04 of 24 January 1986. Violators may be punished with sentences of up to one year in prison and a fine of 1.2 million CFA francs.

Senegal has ratified CITES called "Washington Convention" in 1977 (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora threatened with extinction), a United Nations Convention that regulates and ensures that international trade species listed in its annexes, as well as parts and products derived from them, is not detrimental to the conservation of biodiversity and based on sustainable use of species.

We must salute the effort and the outstanding work of the Senegalese authorities who contributed to the success of these operations. Thus, Senegal joined many other African countries in the active fight against this crime and now puts the ranks of countries that heroic struggle to save the heritage of Africa.
This first action was highly praised and appreciated by the international community and it is hoped that foreign governments continue to support the Senegal face this scourge.

However, contrary to what was expected of the Senegalese Justice, the Court Departmental Dakar imposed Friday, May 30, 2014 a rather weak effort. They were sentenced to three months' imprisonment, one month in prison and payment of 500,000 FCFA.

It is true that they are still poorly understood by the Senegalese justice offenses, but the clemency of the Court is even more surprising that Article L. 32 of the Code of hunting and wildlife protection provides for penalties of up up to 1 year in prison.

Also, the case has shown that two traffickers were fully aware of the illegal nature of their activities. Eloi SIAKOU Sokoto stated: "The ivory trade brings in a lot more money than other business but I know that it is forbidden and it is very dangerous." Just as Modou Sarr who intentionally mentioned on his business card "seller ivory." They chose to get involved in the smuggling of illicit goods into knowingly and despite the Senegalese laws. Knowing that wildlife law is applied in other countries they fear, they prefer to operate illegally and with impunity in Senegal.

The illegal trade in endangered species is a transnational organized crime. It is not localized poaching. It is the fourth largest illegal trade in the world after weapons, drugs and human beings according to the United Nations Congress on Crime. It is about $ 19 billion profit annually worldwide. It is often the result of powerful and organized criminal networks.

In recent years, the killing of elephants have intensified dramatically, they are large scale, an unprecedented rate and with methods more sophisticated. 96 elephants are killed every day in Africa, which represents 35 000 elephants are killed each year solely for their ivory. Asian demand, motor international ivory trade is the direct cause of the massive drop in elephant populations across Africa and if nothing is done now, the elephant could disappear by 2030.

Now compelling evidence show that the explosion of the ivory trade undermines the stability and security of African states because poachers and traffickers have firepower increasingly important and because this traffic is related finance terrorism and wars in certain region, the Al-Shabaab Somali terrorist groups, South Soudannais Janjaweed LRA and Joseph Kony are involved in the international ivory smuggling.

Trafficking endangers ecosystems and survival of people who depend on, and also has a significant impact on the economy of tourism in Africa. Wildlife trafficking is a conservation issue, an economic issue, a security issue and a health issue.
More African statesman take this threat seriously. Like other countries in the sub region where these offenses are punishable by sentences of up to 15 years imprisonment, Senegal must not be left out and should undertake a reform of the Code. But by then, the Senegalese authorities face the challenge of the fight against organized crime and law enforcement in order to stop the killing, stop the traffic stop request!