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Men held in Sweden for trading rhino horn

Published: 1 May 12 07:50 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/40566/20120501/

Two men are in police custody in Sweden on suspicion of having tried to illegally trade in the horn from the rhinoceros, which is classed as an endangered species.

The two men, one in his thirties and one in his fifties, were arrested in Stockholm following an extended surveillance operation and are currently being held on suspicion of breaching the endangered species act.

"This is a matter of serious organized crime. A single rhino horn can be sold on the black market for a million kronor ($149,000)", said police inspector Filippo Bassini to the Dagens Juridik daily.

Police believe that the men are part of a broader criminal network which is also involved in trafficking, copyright piracy and armed robbery.

The men have been under surveillance for several years and were finally arrested while coming out of an auction house in central Stockholm a couple of weeks ago.

According to Filippo Bassini, the arrest is the first of its kind in Sweden and in Europe.

The trading in rhinoceros horn is prohibited under the 1999 Environment Act and as the species in this case is listed as endangered, the suspected offence is classified as aggravated.

If found guilty the pair risk imprisonment of up to four years.

The Local/pvs (news@thelocal.se)

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09:01 May 1, 2012 by RobinHood
I saw a sad stuffed rhinoceros in a Gothenburg museum with his horn missing, stolen by scumbags in a smash and grab raid that also destroyed a huge expensive glass plate and damaged other parts of the animal. A museum technician was measuring him up for a new plastic nose. She said the museum would display a sign in future explaining to thieves the new horn was a replacement containing no ivory. I took a picture of the poor chap. The Local can have it for this piece if they ask me.

It's such a shame that well-intentioned museums and museum attendees must suffer so that rich, ignorant and sad Asian and Arabic gentlemen suffering from dysfunctional penises can try to have sex with their even sadder prostitute/ mistresses.

It's an even bigger shame when a live rhinoceros gets shot for the same reason.
12:44 May 1, 2012 by Borilla
@RobinHood

Echo!!
14:47 May 1, 2012 by Grokh
sick people !

@RobinHood said it right.
15:14 May 1, 2012 by BritVik
Put the scumbags in a compound, unarmed, with an angry rhino. They won't want to deal again . . . . .
19:25 May 1, 2012 by Steggles
They will probably just get a slap on the wrist.
20:54 May 1, 2012 by gpafledthis
used for their helmets ??
22:12 May 1, 2012 by engagebrain
re robinhood rhino horn is essentially hair - not ivory.

Rhino horns have no medicinal properties, making their kiiling completely pointless.
22:30 May 1, 2012 by johan rebel
Oooh . . . up to four years in a Swedish jail! That will scare them!
07:24 May 2, 2012 by Reason abd Realism
Maybe the artist Makode Linde could make a white rhino cake and then scream in pain when equality minister Nyamko Sabuni first cuts into it.

The infantile and shrill cries of racism (black minister, white cake) will eventually give way to an adult discussion on better methods to reduce poaching and/or to apprehend and punish poachers.
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