A file picture of Teo being arrested in Bangkok for trading in wildlife parts. The Nation/ANN
WASHINGTON: An alleged Malaysian wildlife trafficker and what officials call his transnational criminal organisation have been targetted for financial sanctions related to the illegal shipment of rhinoceros horn, ivory and other specimens.
The US Treasury Department claimed that Malaysian national Teo Boon Ching, his alleged trafficking organisation and a Malaysian firm registered in Johor Baru, engaged in the “cruel trafficking of endangered and threatened wildlife and the products of brutal poaching”.
Teo specialises in the transportation of rhino horns, ivory and pangolins from Africa, using routes through Malaysia and Laos to get to consumers in Vietnam and China, the US authorities said.
Teo was arrested in Thailand on June 29 and extradited to the United States on Friday, according to a joint statement by US attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams and the US Fish and Wildlife service office of law enforcement assistant director Edward J. Grace.
Teo, 57, faces one count of conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking and two counts of money laundering. The money laundering charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and the trafficking conspiracy charge carries a maximum of five years’ imprisonment, the statement said.
It was not immediately clear if Teo was represented by a US attorney who could comment on his behalf.
The US Justice Department has accused Teo of participating in a conspiracy to traffic in more than 70kg of rhino horns valued at more than US$725,000 (RM3.4mil), which involved poaching several animals from the endangered species list and laundering the proceeds.
Teo led a transnational criminal enterprise based in Asia with significant operations in Malaysia and Thailand. Their activities included poaching and international trafficking and smuggling of rhino horns, the Justice Department said.
Teo allegedly served as a specialised smuggler, transporting rhino horns from poaching operations centred largely in Africa to customers primarily in Asia. Teo also claimed to be able to ship rhino horns to the United States, the authorities said.
Among other things, the sanctions deny Teo and others access to any property or financial assets held in the United States and prevent US companies and people from doing business with them. — AP
