The Basecamp, 3rd Floor South Wing, Sri Pentas, 3,Persiaran Bandar Utama, 47800 PJ, SelangorIn a monumental victory for animal lovers and conservationists worldwide, September 2023 marked the downfall of Teo Boon Ching, infamously dubbed the “Godfather” of Southeast Asia’s illegal wildlife trade.
Charging exorbitant fees, Teo amassed immense wealth, smuggling over 80 containers of contraband into Malaysia before onward shipment to destinations, primarily in China.in large-scale trafficking and smuggling of rhinoceros horns. This violated various U.S. laws and international treaties. Teo conspired to transport, distribute, sell, and smuggle around 219 kilograms of rhinoceros horns, valued at approximately $2.1 million .
Following his arrest in Thailand in 2022, Teo was extradited to the United States to face a litany of charges, including conspiracy to traffic in rhinoceros horns and money laundering. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking.In a landmark ruling, a US district court sentenced Teo to 18 months in prison – a symbolic victory in the fight against wildlife crime.
Yet, Teo’s conviction merely scratches the surface of a deeper problem. Wildlife trafficking continues to thrive, driven by insatiable demand and lax enforcement measures. Darren Chow, a Malaysian conservationist, expressed concern over the inadequacy of penalties, urging for stronger deterrents against wildlife crime.