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Four Chinese citizens who were accused of having tried to smuggle a hoard of rhino horns and one leopard skin out of Namibia in March 2014 were found guilty on two charges in the Windhoek Regional Court today.

A Chinese citizen who tried to send a piece of rhino horn out of Namibia in a parcel was sentenced to pay fines totalling N$40 000 or serve a two-year prison term yesterday.

Seven alleged rhino poachers were refused bail last week in the Omararu Magistrate's Court following protests and petitions by the community against their release.

The delivery of the verdict in the trial of four Chinese citizens charged with having tried to smuggle a hoard of rhino horns out of Namibia in March 2014, has again been postponed by a month.

The long-awaited judgement in the trail in which four Chinese nationals stand accused of trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns worth millions out of Namibia has again been postponed. A large media contingent yesterday gathered at court ready to hear the judgement in the largest rhino horn smuggling trial in Namibia, but had to turn away disappointed when it was postponed for almost a month to 13 September.

The search for a wildlife warrior to lead the national anti-poaching unit is continuing. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism is still searching for a suitable candidate to spearhead the country’s anti-poaching unit and will consider headhunting a candidate should the right person for the job not be found. Environment Minister Pohamba Shifeta told Namibian Sun that the recruitment process started months ago but they have not found a suitable candidate.

Thirty-five rhino carcasses have been discovered that were poached last year, raising the 2015 figure to 125 rhinos killed. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism yesterday announced this new statistic and said poachers had killed 37 rhinos so far this year.

Two businessmen who spent a week in police custody after they were arrested in connection with an alleged attempt to sell four rhino horns, have been released on bail of N$50 000 each. Windhoek resident Tangi Sheefeni Amon Namwandi (32), who is also known as 'Mox', and Jairus Shaalukeni (32), who lives at Ongwediva, were granted bail when they made a second appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court in Katutura on a charge of possessing or dealing in rhino horns on Thursday last week.

The judgement which has been described as Namibia’s biggest rhino horn smuggling case to date, will finally be delivered next month. Four Chinese nationals stand accused of trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns worth more than N$2 million out of Namibia.

Four Chinese citizens accused of having attempted to smuggle two suitcases filled with rhino horns and a leopard skin out of Namibia in March 2014, are due to hear the verdict in their trial next month.

Private conservation group COVER (Conserving our Valuable Rhino and Elephant) has halted its anti-poaching operations, due to an ongoing legal battle against the founder of the organisation. The court case, which is pending in the High Court, stems from an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into the alleged misuse of funds raised for rhino protection during the so-called Black Tie event last year, which included a wine auction.

More than two years after the biggest rhino horn smuggling case in Namibia was uncovered, the defence rested on Tuesday after the alleged kingpin that was pulling the strings in Namibia took the stand. The case, which involves four Chinese nationals Li Xiaoliang, Li Zhibing, Pu Xuexin and Wang Hui, was postponed in the Windhoek Regional Court for closing arguments on 20 May. The four men were arrested for trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns worth more than N$2.3 million and a leopard skin valued at N$50 000 out of Namibia.

The prosecutor general has bank accounts and six cars belonging to a Chinese citizen and a Namibian man facing charges of possessing and trying to export the shellfish abalone from Namibia in her sights.

The State yesterday painted a picture of the pecking order among the four Chinese men accused of trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns out of Namibia. Li Xiaoliang, Li Zhibing, Pu Xuexin and Wang Hui yesterday appeared in the Windhoek Regional Court in Katutura for the continuation of their trial. They are charged with trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns worth more than N$2.3 million and a leopard skin valued at N$50 000 out of Namibia. The items were found in two suitcases at Hosea Kutako International Airport on March 24 last year.

State prosecutor Simba Nduana yesterday told one of the Chinese men standing trial in Namibia’s largest rhino-horn-smuggling case that he and one of his co-accused had concocted a “cock and goose” story for the court that was filled with inconsistencies. Li Xiaoliang was cross-examined in the Windhoek Regional Court as the trial of Xiaoliang and his co-accused, Li Zinbing, Pu Xuexin and Wang Hui, continued.

The discovery of close to 100 kilogrammes of dried abalone and more than a kilogramme of rhino horn pieces in Windhoek this week landed a Chinese citizen and a Namibian man in the dock in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court yesterday.

South Africa last week announced that the number of rhinos poached during 2015 had gone down from the 1 215 record total in 2014 to 1 175 in 2015. The wildlife trade monitoring network, TRAFFIC’s Director of Policy Sabri Zain said in a statement that although there was a slight decrease in rhino poaching in South Africa and the authorities are having some impact on the ground, the numbers are hardly cause for celebration or complacency.

The Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, was in the Etosha National Park last week and unearthed a range of irregularities. He says the park regulations are not being obeyed. Shifeta stressed that action will be taken against those who do not comply with the rules of the park, but that this action will depend on what rules are broken. He said it is a privilege for anyone to visit or stay at Etosha and the park must be respected. "It is our national heritage."

The trial of four Chinese citizens accused of having tried to smuggle two suitcases containing rhino horns out of Namibia in March last year is scheduled to continue in the Windhoek Regional Court next month.

The State has closed its case in Namibia’s biggest rhino horn smuggling trial to date, in which four Chinese nationals stand accused of trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns out of the country. Li Xiaoliang, Li Zhibing, Pu Xuexin and Wang Hui appeared in the Windhoek Regional Court in Katutura last week for the continuation of their trial. They were arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle rhino horns worth more than N$2.3 million and a leopard skin valued at N$50 000 out of Namibia. The items were found in two luggage bags at the Hosea Kutako International Airport on March 24 last…

The State has suffered a huge blow in a rhino smuggling case, after the Windhoek Regional Court in Katutura ruled that the evidence three of the four accused gave in their bail hearings cannot be used in their trial. Li Xiaoliang, Li Zhibing, Pu Xuexin, whose bail evidence was ruled on, appeared with Wang Hui yesterday. They were arrested for trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns worth more than N$2.3 million and a leopard skin worth N$50 000 out of Namibia last year.

The State and the defence have locked horns over the constitutional right of the accused not to incriminate themselves, in a landmark rhino horn smuggling trial involving Chinese nationals, whose families are reportedly blissfully unaware of their legal troubles in Namibia. Li Xiaoliang, Li Zhibing, Pu Xuexin and Wang Hui appeared yesterday in the Windhoek Regional Court in Katutura. They have been arrested for trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns worth more than N$2.3 million and a leopard skin of N$50 000 out of Namibia last year.

The killing of rhinoceroses in the supposed safety of Etosha National Park is continuing, despite intensified efforts to clamp down on poaching in Namibia. The carcasses of another two black rhinos that had been killed for their horns were found in the south-western part of Etosha National Park early last week, a police spokesperson, chief inspector Kauna Shikwambi, confirmed on Friday. Shikwambi said both carcasses were found in the area between the Otjovasando air strip and Renostervlei in the far western part of Etosha. The horns of both animals had been removed.

Another two black rhinos have been found poached in the Etosha National Park, and a rhino calf is still missing, after poachers struck again this week. This brings the total number of rhinos that have been killed in the country to 79 for the year so far. Police spokesperson Inspector Slogan Matheus confirmed that two black rhinos had been found dead at Etosha with their horns hacked off.

Namibia has already lost three times the number of rhinos in 2015 compared to that of last year. A total of 77 rhinos and 37 elephants have been poached so far this year. This was confirmed by the Director of Parks and Wildlife Management in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Colgar Sikopo on Friday. Namibia has experienced a sharp increase in cases of rhino poaching over the past five years. Namibia lost one rhino to poaching in 2009 and 2010 respectively; two rhinos were illegally killed in 2012, four in 2013 and 25 last year.

Chief Inspector Barry de Klerk of the Namibian Police’s Protective Resources Unit delivered explosive evidence in his testimony in the trail of four Chinese nationals accused in Namibia’s biggest rhino-horn smuggling case. De Klerk described the hierarchy of an organised Chinese Triad. He revealed that Wang Hui was the kingpin in the group and said he was offered a bribe to ensure that Wang escaped justice. De Klerk said the bribery attempt is still being investigated.

The Chinese national who is suspected of being the kingpin in one of Namibia’s biggest rhino-horn smuggling cases was found with gold, bank cards, bank books as well as other suspect items when he was arrested. Wang Huii, who operates an import and export company in Otjiwarongo, stands accused along with three other Chinese nationals Li Xiaoliang, Li Zhibing, Pu Xuexin who all appeared in the Windhoek Regional Court in Katutura yesterday for the continuation of their trial. 

The trial in which four Chinese nationals stand accused of trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns out of Namibia has been postponed until next month after the defence objected to the screening of video footage yesterday. Although the court was prepared and ready to view a video recording submitted by the State, the defence argued that the recording had no forensic significance.

The slaughter of Namibia’s rhino population continues unabated, with two more black rhinos killed. The latest poaching of two black rhino bulls in the Epacha Game Reserve last month brought to more than 70 the number of rhinos killed in the country. The spokesperson of the Namibian Police, Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi, said the first rhino bull was found at Epacha Farm on August 23 with its horns still intact.

The anti-poaching organisation Conserving Our Valuable Elephant and Rhino (Cover) said yesterday that an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into the misuse of funds raised to help protect rhino is in an advanced stage. At the same time the founder of Cover, Jofie Lamprecht, responded to recent criticism against the organisation and gave an update about the first private anti-poaching unit that has been trained by French outfit Wildlife Angel.

In the trial involving four Chinese nationals arrested for trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns out of the country, the state witness was hammered during cross examination for omitting certain facts. Li Zinbing, Li Xiaoliang, Pu Xuexin and Wang Hui appeared in the Windhoek Regional Court at Katutura on Friday. They were arrested on charges of attempting to smuggle rhino horns worth more than N$2,3 million and a leopard skin worth N$50 000 out of the country.

The four Chinese men accused of having tried to smuggle a hoard of rhino horns out of Namibia in March last year is due to continue in the Windhoek Regional Court in September.

One of the Chinese men accused of trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns out of Namibia in March last year admitted yesterday that he knew he was carrying controlled wildlife products in two suitcases which he was planning to take to China.

The slaughter of Namibia’s rhino continues, with yet another being poached - this time on a privately owned game farm in the Otjozondjupa Region. This was the third white rhino that has been poached on Farm Okamahoro since the middle of last month. The farm is situated approximately 35km west of Okahandja. Okamahoro Farm no. 20 is privately owned and farms with a variety of game, including rhinos. According to Otjozondjupa police spokesperson Warrant Officer, Maureen Mbeha, a female rhino carcass was discovered last Thursday.

The arrest of a Chinese national suspected of co-ordinating rhino horn smuggling from Namibia is among the major successes that has been achieved by an international law-enforcement operation combating wildlife crime. The operation - codenamed ‘Operation COBRA III’ - was conducted during May and involved a series of raids conducted across Asia, Africa and Europe, resulting in more than 300 arrests of suspects, including kingpins, and over 600 seizures of assorted wildlife contraband. There have also been more tip-offs leading to the unearthing of criminal networks and their…

Four Chinese suspects, who were arrested in connection with allegedly trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns out of the Namibia, will now be appearing together in the Windhoek Regional Court in Katutura at the end of the month. This follows a decision by the Office of the Prosecutor-General that 40-year-old Wang Huii, who was arrested last month at the Windhoek Country Club, should appear together with three other Chinese suspects who were arrested last year.

The Opuwo Magistrate’s Court has applied for a warrant of arrest for a Chinese national, who was arrested for dealing in illegal rhino horns last year. The warrant will be executed it if he fails to appear before the court within the next two weeks. Dejin Xu, who was allegedly found with two rhino horns during a sting operation in February last year, was due to appear in the Opuwo Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday for plea and trial. Prosecutor Obert Tavengwa Masendeke said the court was yesterday presented with a doctor’s letter stating that he is unable to attend the proceedings…

The Kunene Region has been free of rhino poaching for nearly five months. This was revealed by Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) Namibia chief operating officer, Dr Axel Hartmann, during a debate about legalising the trade in rhino horns in Namibia.

The three Chinese men accused of trying to smuggle 14 rhinoceros horns out of Namibia in March last year could be joined in the dock by a compatriot, after another suspect was arrested in connection with their case this week. The fourth suspect to be arrested about the alleged attempt to smuggle rhino horns and a leopard skin out of Namibia on 24 March last year is a 40-year-old Chinese resident of Otjiwarongo, Wang Hui, who was apprehended in Windhoek on Monday evening.

There has been a major breakthrough with the arrest of a Chinese man whom the police believe to be the kingpin in one of Namibia’s biggest rhino-horn smuggling cases. Wang Huii was arrested on Monday at the Windhoek Country Club and has been charged with the possession and export of controlled wildlife products. He appeared in the Windhoek Regional Court in Katutura yesterday. The 40-year-old Huii is being linked to the three Chinese men who were arrested with 14 rhino horns last year at the Hosea Kutaku International Airport.

Another two white rhinos have been poached on a game farm near Okahandja, pushing the number of rhino carcasses that have been discovered in Namibia this year up to 62. Police spokesperson Inspector Slogan Matheus yesterday confirmed that two white rhinos were discovered on farm Okamahoro in the Snyrivier District. The game farm is situated approximately 30km outside of Okahandja.

Suspects have been identified in the ongoing Etosha National Park poaching spree and arrests are expected soon. This is according to Tourism and Environment Minister Pohamba Shifeta, who also announced that the reward money for information leading to the arrest of the poachers had been doubled from N$30 000 to N$60 000. The minister said there had already been breakthroughs in the north-eastern regions, including Zambezi, where six suspects had been arrested.

The probe into poaching in the Etosha National Park, where 54 rhino carcasses have been found this year alone, will include investigating rumours of the possible involvement of park staff and management. "Everything will be investigated and no stone will be left unturned. I have already seen two problems and that is the negligence of staff and the other suspicions could be very serious," said Environment and Tourism Minister Pohamba Shifeta.

Police Inspector-General Sebastian Ndeitunga has called for the establishment of a database of all trespassers in national parks and nature reserves to establish whether there are links with poachers and possible buyers of rhino horns and elephant tusks. Ndeitunga made these remarks at the Etosha National Park while addressing Heads of Criminal Investigation, Operations, Special Branch and Special Field Force Directorates as well as regional commanders from the Oshana, Oshikoto, Omusati, Kunene and Otjozondjupa regions.

Suspicious accounts amounting to N$329 million were halted by the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) last year in the ongoing battle against money laundering. The possible offences that were identified during the analyses of the reports included corruption, fraud, tax evasion, contravention of exchange control regulations, rhino poaching, theft, diamond smuggling, illegal scams and illegal casino gambling.

The escalation of rhino and elephant poaching in Namibia continues unabated, with yet another case reported at the weekend. This follows the discovery of an elephant carcass in a village located in the Bwabwata National Park in the Kavango East Region.

While several new cases of rhino poaching have been discovered in Namibia the new Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, says he will not tolerate complacency from staff members, especially in areas where repeated poaching is happening. Five rhino carcases were discovered about two weeks ago during a rhino dehorning exercise in the Kunene Region. Four of these rhinos had been poached, the ministry confirmed. The rhinos were presumably shot last year already and the carcasses were found in the area of Omatendeka.

The new Minister of Environment and Tourism says he will prioritise anti-poaching initiatives, including extra security measures at the Etosha National Park, which has seen four cases of rhino poaching recently. In the latest poaching incident, the carcass of a young rhino bull was discovered at the Dolomite waterhole in Etosha this past Friday. The rhino’s horns were still intact and it had been shot three times. Police are still investigating the case and there are currently no suspects.

The trial of three Chinese men, who were arrested with 14 rhino horns at Hosea Kutako International Airport last year, will start in June. The case has been postponed to June 25 and 26 for plea and trial in the Windhoek Regional Court in Katutura. Li Xiaoliang, Li Zhibing and Pu Xuexin were caught with 14 rhino horns valued at N$2.3 million, as well as a leopard skin valued at N$50 000, in their luggage on March 23 last year. The three Chinese nationals have maintained that they did not know what was in their suitcases.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism says although it does not have any hand in the internal investigation at the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT), it may launch its own probe into the matter. The Save the Rhino Trust confirmed this week that an internal investigation had been commissioned last year after several “concerns” were brought to their attention with regard to an alleged conspiracy between SRT members and poachers. The Kunene Region has been the hardest hit when it comes to rhino poaching in Namibia.