Three Kenyan men were imprisoned on Thursday, May 11 for their roles in rhino poaching and attempting to smuggle pounds of heroin into the United States.
According to federal prosecutors, the men were members of a gang based in Uganda that attempted to transport millions of dollars in illegally obtained animal parts.
Between 2012 and 2019, the men allegedly attempted to smuggle the drugs when police intercepted a package containing a black rhinoceros horn sold by the defendants and intended for a buyer in Manhattan.
US District Judge Gregory H. Woods sentenced them, noting that the convict was the last of the group members to be sentenced.
“This case exemplifies the overlap between cases involving wildlife trafficking and other types of transnational crime,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.
One 49-year-old man was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking and conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram of heroin.
He was sentenced to four years in prison.
While the second, aged 62, was sentenced to four and a half years after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more heroin.
The third Kenyan was sentenced to three and a half years for the same offense.
