Malaysian National Extradited to US, Charged With Trafficking Rhinoceros Horns

Teo Boon Ching, a Malaysian national, was charged with conspiring to traffic more than 70 kilograms of rhinoceros horns worth over $725,000 and launder the proceeds of the sale of the horns, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced. Ching was arrested in Thailand in June and extradited to the U.S. on Oct. 7 to appear before Magistrate Judge Gabriel Gorenstein, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. He faces a maximum of five years in prison for the trafficking charge and 20 years in prison for the two counts of money laundering.

Ching allegedly was the leader of a scheme largely in Malaysia and Thailand to internationally traffick and smuggle rhinoceros horns taken via poaching of endangered rhinoceros. The U.S. Attorney's Office said trade involving endangered species violates many U.S. laws and international treaties implemented by various U.S. laws. Ching brought the horns from poaching operations in Africa to Asia all while claiming to be able to ship the horns to the U.S.

From July to August 2019, Ching conspired to ship, distribute, sell and smuggle around 73 kilograms of the horns worth around $725,472. In July, he met with a "confidential source" in Malaysia to discuss the sale of the horns, stating that he served as a "middleman" between the African poachers and the Asian customers, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

In August, the confidential source, following directions from law enforcement, bought 12 of the horns with money Ching believed to be the proceeds of other illegal wildlife trafficking sitting in New York bank accounts. Law enforcement then deposited the proceeds into various Chinese bank accounts at a facility in Thailand to hide the origins and purposes of the transactions. Later in August, Ching arranged for his co-conspirators to ship the 12 horns to undercover law enforcement in Thailand, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

“Teo Boon Ching is alleged to be the leader of a transnational criminal enterprise trafficking in rhinoceros horns, enriching poachers responsible for the senseless illegal slaughter of numerous endangered rhinoceros, and furthering the market for these illicit products," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. "The protection of endangered wildlife and the preservation of our natural resources is an important priority for this Office. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this defendant has been caught and brought to the United States to answer for his alleged crimes.”