Kampala Resident Jailed in New York.
Babirye Sania, Capital Radio
August 25, 2022
A Kampala Resident of Liberian Nationality has been sentenced to 63 months
in Prison by a court in Newyork.
US District Judge Gregory H.Woods found Kromah Moazu alias Ayoub guilty of
conspiring to traffic in millions of dollars in rhinoceros horns and
elephant Ivory, which are both endangered Wildlife species.
Kromah was extradited to the United States from Uganda on the 13th of June
2019 for trial. The 190kgs of rhinoceros and 10 tons of elephant Ivory was
valued at 3.4 US dollars and 4 Million US dollars respectively and had sold
then to buyers in the United States and Countries and Southeast Asia.
Prosecution led by United States District Attorney for South District of
Newyork, Damian Williams stated that from at least in or about December
2012 through at least May 2019, Kromah and his two Co-accused conspired to
transport distribute sell, and smuggle the said protected wildlife species
from or involving various countries in East Africa, including Uganda, the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Senegal and
Tanzania to the said buyers.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The protection of endangered wildlife
and natural resources remains a crucial and important priority for my
Office. Today’s sentence demonstrates that those who are responsible for
the decimation of global populations of endangered and threatened animals
protected by international agreements will face serious consequences. This
case also exemplifies our commitment, together with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration, to work with our
international partners to arrest and bring to justice in a U.S. courtroom
those who commit these serious crimes abroad.”
In imposing today’s sentence, Judge Woods remarked that he agreed with the
Government that a significant sentence was necessary to send a “loud and
clear message” that such large-scale wildlife trafficking warrants serious
consequences.
According to the charging and other documents filed in the case, as well as
statements made in court proceedings:
KROMAH and two of his co-conspirators, AMARA CHERIF, a/k/a “Bamba Issiaka,”
a citizen of Guinea, and MANSUR MOHAMED SURUR, a/k/a “Mansour,” a Kenyan
citizen, were members of a transnational criminal enterprise (the
“Enterprise”) based in Uganda and surrounding countries that were engaged
in the large-scale trafficking and smuggling of rhinoceros horns and
elephant ivory, both protected wildlife species. A trade involving
endangered or threatened species violates several U.S. laws, as well as
international treaties implemented by certain U.S. laws.
https://capitalradio.co.ug/news/2022-08-25-kampala-resident-jailed-in-newyork/