A Red Notice has been issued by INTERPOL for Rajkumar Praja, a Nepalese national wanted for killing rhinos and international rhino horn trading.
Rajkumar Praja was convicted in absentia and sentenced to 15 years in prison, after Nepalese authorities dismantled a rhino horn trafficking network earlier this year.
INTERPOL’s Environmental Security unit welcomes Nepal’s Red Notice request as further evidence of the country’s ongoing enforcement efforts, which have resulted in increased arrests — and convictions. In 2011, Nepal went an entire calendar year without a single rhino being killed for a horn, and since 2012, has lost just one rhino to the illegal rhino horn trade.
David Higgins, head of the INTERPOL Environmental Security unit, praises Nepal’s global perspective on wildlife crime.
“Given the increasingly international nature of wildlife crime, it is important for countries to look beyond their national borders and develop an international fugitive investigation strategy. With many criminals crossing borders, law enforcement needs to stay one step ahead to successfully address this crime. We would encourage all member countries to make increased use of INTERPOL’s global network in identifying and bringing to justice criminals who seek to profit at the cost of our environment.”
SAWEN’s (South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network) Chief Enforcement Coordinator and Director General of Nepal’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Megh Bahadur Pandey, urges international cooperation.
“Wildlife crime is well organized at the transnational level. Collaborative efforts are essential to develop the capacity of the frontline staff to combat this crime. SAWEN Secretariat would like to appeal to all wildlife enforcement networks and international agencies to coordinate in combating wildlife crime.”
On November 13, 2013, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced that a reward of up to $1 million is being offered for information leading to the dismantling of the Laos-based Xaysavang Network, headed by Vixay Keosavang. An INTERPOL Red Notice was issued for one of Vixay Keosavang’s associates, Punpitak Peter Chunchom, a Thai national who fled South Africa following his arrest in 2011. Chunchom is linked to South African game farmer Marnus Steyl, and professional hunter Harry Claassens, who were also arrested, but released on bail.
INTERPOL encourages its 190 member countries to prioritize international exchange and expand their use of INTERPOL’s specialized tools including its colour-coded Notices system to investigate, locate and apprehend environmental criminals.
Source: INTERPOL
Rhishja Cota
I am the founder of Annamiticus and I have been researching and writing about wildlife trafficking issues since 2009. I also founded World Pangolin Day in 2012. I am the author of USAID Wildlife Asia's Pangolin Species Identification Guide: A Rapid Assessment Tool for Field and Desk. I co-facilitated and was a presenter at the USAID Wildlife Asia Pangolin Care Workshop. At the 4th Regional Dialogue on Combating Trafficking of Wild Fauna and Flora, I facilitated the species roundtables on pangolins. I have trekked with forest rangers in Cambodia, journeyed to the streets of Hanoi to research the illegal wildlife trade, and to the rainforests of Sumatra and Java to document the world’s rarest rhinos. At CITES meetings, I collaborate with colleagues from around the world to lobby in favor of protecting endangered species. I hosted the Behind the Schemes podcast and am the author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine. I enjoy music, desert gardening, herping, reading, creating, and walking with my dogs. Check out my t-shirts and stickers at snoots + teefers.