Illegal trader tried to sell rhino horns, elephant tusks and hippo teeth on Instagram
Abbas Allawi, 52, offered the ivory at £60,000 per kilogramme describing what he had as “banned things.”
But Scotland Yard sniffer dogs specially trained to detect rhino horns uncovered the stash in his loft when his Watford home was raided last October.
Detectives from the Met's Wildlife Crime Unit found three rhinoceros horns, two elephant tusks which weighed 40kg and four hippopotamus teeth.
Allawi tried to claim he did not realise what he was doing anything wrong or illegal but was found guilty of six wildlife offences at Harrow Crown Court.
He was jailed for 14 months for offences relating to the illegal purchase, keeping for sale and selling parts of endangered species.
Peter Nugent from the CPS said: “Abbas Allawi stood to make significant sums trading in ivory and tusks despite knowing it was illegal.
“He tried to claim ignorance of the law but the prosecution case was able to show through his messages to potential buyers that he knew full well he was trading in what he described as 'banned things.'
“He will now face the consequences of this actions.”
Allawi offered the ivory at £60,000 per kilogramme
DC Sarah Bailey of the Metropolitan Police's Wildlife Crime Unit, said: “This case shows that laws are in place to protect endangered species.
“I would urge anyone who sees specimens from protected wildlife for sale to contact police.
“We are committed to ensuring that anyone in London who is trading illegally in endangered animal parts is stopped.”
DC Christopher Jones added: “Some rhinoceros populations are critically endangered.
“A world without iconic species such as rhinos and elephants would be a sad place.
“Police are the last line of defence for some of these beautiful creatures but we will seek to prosecute anyone found to be trading illegally.”
Allawi was sentenced to 14 months in jail for keeping and offering for sale three rhinoceros horns and offering to purchase rhinoceros horns, contrary to the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 199.
He was sentenced to seven months to run concurrent for keeping and offering for sale two elephant tusks and offering for sale 40Kg of elephant ivory and three months to also run concurrent for keeping offering for sale four hippopotamus teeth (tusks).
No comments:
Post a Comment