Wanted Environmental Crime Fugitive arrested in Zambia Game Rangers International working with ZAWA Intelligence and Investigations Unit Press Release A prominent environmental criminal named on the INTERPOL Wanted List of International Fugitives, INFRA Terra, has been arrested by a team from the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) and Zambia Police. Ben Simasiku, a 32-year-old Zambian national, escaped from Botswana where he had been arrested in 2012 for the unlawful possession of seventeen pieces of elephant ivory.. The illegal cache, weighing 115kg in total, was worth approximately US$220,000 according to recent reports of the price of ivory. Intelligence leading to Simasiku’s arrest last week in Livingstone was received by ZAWA and a special operation to intercept this international fugitive was launched, culminating in the arrest of Simasiku on Tuesday 2nd December 2014. The operation was led by the ZAWA Intelligence and Investigations Unit with support from Game Rangers International. GRI is committed to supporting the use of intelligence-led law enforcement to tackle wildlife crime in Zambia. GRI’s work with the ZAWA Intelligence and Investigations Unit is supported by African Wildlife Foundation and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Operation Infra (International Fugitive Round Up and Arrest) Terra was launched by INTERPOL on 6 October, focusing on 139 fugitives wanted by 36 member countries for crimes including illegal fishing, wildlife trafficking, illegal trade and disposal of waste, illegal logging and trading in illicit ivory. It is the first INTERPOL fugitive operation targeting individuals specifically wanted for crimes concerning the environment. For more information, visit the INTERPOL website. For more information, please contact: Sarah Davies Communications Manager, Game Rangers International Elephant Foundation
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 23:00:34 +0000
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