Kenya’s Feisal Mohammed Ali among nine environmental crimes fugitives sought by Interpol
The pictures of eight out of nine fugitives wanted by Interpol for environmental crimes. PHOTO | COURTESY | INTERPOL
What you need to know:
- According to Interpol, Mr Ali is alleged to be the leader of an ivory smuggling ring in Kenya.
- This is the first time Interpol is appealing for help to trace and arrest fugitives specifically wanted for crimes concerning the environment.
A Kenyan is among nine people named by Interpol in its first-ever international appeal for help to arrest fugitives sought for committing environmental crimes.
Kenyan businessman Feisal Mohammed Ali has been named as one of the suspects who are on the run.
According to Interpol, Mr Ali is alleged to be the leader of an ivory-smuggling ring in Kenya.
In October, the world’s largest international police organisation issued a red alert notice on Mr Ali, who is being sought in connection with the seizure of 228 tusks and 74 ivory pieces weighing well over two tonnes at a motor vehicle warehouse in Mombasa in June.
The businessman is also wanted by Kenya police.
This is the first time Interpol is appealing for help to trace and arrest fugitives specifically wanted for crimes concerning the environment.
Interpol is targeting environmental crimes fugitives in an operation dubbed Operation Infra Terra.
JUMPED BAIL
The environmental crimes the nine are alleged to have committed are trading in illicit ivory, illegal fishing, wildlife trafficking, illegal trade and disposal of waste and illegal logging.
In a statement released Monday from Lyon, France, Interpol’s criminal intelligence officer in charge of the Fugitive Investigative Support Unit Mr Ioannis Kokkinis urged the public to report to them or to their local or national police any information that would lead to the arrest of the suspects.
“Even the smallest detail, which you might think is insignificant, has the potential to break a case wide open when combined with other evidence police already have,” he said.
Other fugitives wanted by Interpol for environmental crimes include Ahmed Kamran, a Pakistani national who is accused of smuggling 100 live animals at Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Airport. He was arrested and charged before a Tanzanian court but jumped bail.
Others are Sergey Darmiavo from Russia who is wanted for illegal crab fishing; Adriano Giacobone (Italian) is sought for illegal dumping of toxic waste; while Ariel Bustamante Sanchez is wanted in Costa Rica for illegal poaching of crabs.
Zambian Ben Simasiku is wanted for unlawful possession of illegal tusks while Bhekumusa Mawilis Shiba, whose nationality is not confirmed but is believed to be either a Swazi or South African, is being sought for flouting the Game Act.
Nicolaas Antonius Cornelis Maria Duindam of the Netherlands is also on Interpol's list for environment and wildlife crimes and Sudiman Sunoto from Indonesia is wanted for illegal logging..
