In 2013, it was reported that poachers in Zimbabwe used cyanide to kill elephants at a nature reserve. Original estimates by wildlife officials found stated that around 100 elephants died from the poison. After further analysis, the number of elephants killed by cyanide has increased to over 300. Conservation officials state that it is the worst massacre of elephants in Southern African in 25 years.
(All elephant poaching statistics.)
The poachers killed the elephants by lacking water holes and salt licks with cyanide. Once the elephants die, the poachers cut of their ivory tusks. The poachers are able to sell the tusks for $482 (4,750 South African Rand) to cross-border traders in Zimbabwe. The tusks are then smuggled to South Africa, where it can be resold for up to $1,604 (15,800 Rand).
(More black market wildlife trade prices.)
Source: Daily Telegraph, “Poachers kill 300 Zim elephants with cyanide,” Times Live, October 21, 2013.
All wildlife trafficking information.
According to reports from various criminal justice programs, a crackdown on red-light districts of Zimbabwe has led to the sex trade moving its operations to the Internet.
Both male and female escorts advertise their services online to customers, with one female escort stating that many European men use the service because they do not have time to go clubbing or to cruise the streets.
The prices for prostitutes in Zimbabwe range from $20 to $200.
(Prostitute prices worldwide.)
Source: “Prostitutes in Zimbabwe turn to the internet,” Nehanda Radio, September 9, 2013.
The Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe reported in May 2013 that up to $50 Million worth of gold was being illegally smuggled out of Zimbabwe each month.
The gold is believed to be smuggled to South Africa where it is refined on its way to Switzerland. The cost to refine the gold in South Africa is cheaper than in Zimbabwe.
Source: Kudzai Chimhangwa, “Zimbabwe losing millions to gold smuggling: MMCZ,” Standard, May 26, 2013.
An illegal logger told a reporter that he is able to make around $150 a month from illegally cutting down 10 trees in Zimbabwe.
Government officials estimate that illegal logging in the country causes several millions of dollars in lost tax revenue.
Source: “‘Illegal logging costs Zim millions of dollars’”, Standard, August 20, 2012.
Custom officials in India reported seizing 48,600 crates of conflict diamonds in Surat and Mumbai in 2011. The crates of diamonds did not have the proper Kimberly Process Certification and was believed to have been smuggled out of Zimbabwe. The diamonds were worth $1.75 Million.
Up to $1 Billion in potential diamond revenue is smuggled out of Zimbabwe each year.
10 out of 11 diamonds sold around the world are cut in India.
Source: Pradeep Thakur, “Conflict diamonds’ entry to India raises money laundering fear,” Times of India, June 26, 2012.
Up to $1 Billion in potential revenue from the extraction of diamonds in Zimbabwe was reported to be missing as of 2011, according to the country’s Finance Minister and civic leaders.
Source: “ZANU stealing diamond money: NGOs,” Zimbabwean, September 3, 2011.
The killings of rhinos in Africa was at a 15-year high in 2009.
In addition, in 2009 there were 3 times as many rhinos being poached per month in South Africa and Zimbabwe than the average of poached rhinos for all of Africa between 2000 and 205.
The black market diamond smuggling in Zimbabwe could generate $200 Million a month for the country if it was properly regulated and taken out of the hands of the army, according to Human Rights Watch.
Around 120 rhinos were killed by wildlife traffickers in Zimbabwe between March 2008 and June 2009. The rhinos were killed by the traffickers in order to meet the demand in China’s for rhino horns.
There were between 400 to 700 rhinos left in Zimbabwe in 2009.
(Price of endangered animals around the world.)
