The international police agency, Interpol, has began a Most Wanted campaign of people suspected to have carried out such environmental crimes as illegal fishing, illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, trading in ivory and of course, smuggling giraffes into a plane. Associated Press covers the story.
Interpol is asking for the public’s help in tracking down nine suspects on that list. Ioannis Kokkinis, an Interpol criminal intelligence officer, said in a statement this week that a new clue can crack open a dormant case.
“Sometimes all it takes is a fresh pair of eyes to bring new momentum to an investigation and provide the missing clue which will help locate these wanted individuals, some of who have been evading justice for years,” Kokkinis said.
Among the nine most wanted is Ahmed Kamran. Interpol says Kamran allegedly paid for the transport of live giraffes and impalas by military plane from Kilimanjaro International Airport to be delivered to Qatar, where African wildlife like cheetahs are popular pets among the country’s most affluent residents.
Feisal Mohamed Ali is listed by Interpol as a Most Wanted trafficker of ivory. The police group says that the Kenyan national was once found in possession of 314 pieces of ivory weighing more than 2 tons. Interpol says that Ali is the leader of an ivory smuggling group.
