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Three charged in rhino horn smuggling ring Three charged in rhino horn smuggling ring
(about 3 hours later)
Three people have been arrested in the US and accused of conspiring to smuggle endangered black rhino horns and carvings from the US into China.Three people have been arrested in the US and accused of conspiring to smuggle endangered black rhino horns and carvings from the US into China.
Zhifei Li, 28, smuggled more than 20 raw rhino horns, while Shusen Wei, 44, is charged with trying to bribe a federal law enforcement officer to aid Mr Li, federal prosecutors said.Zhifei Li, 28, smuggled more than 20 raw rhino horns, while Shusen Wei, 44, is charged with trying to bribe a federal law enforcement officer to aid Mr Li, federal prosecutors said.
Qing Wang is accused of sending carved rhino cups to Mr Li in Hong Kong.Qing Wang is accused of sending carved rhino cups to Mr Li in Hong Kong.
US federal law bars trafficking in endangered species.US federal law bars trafficking in endangered species.
Mr Li and Mr Wei are Chinese nationals. The investigation was carried out by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.Mr Li and Mr Wei are Chinese nationals. The investigation was carried out by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
According to prosecutors, Mr Li sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to a co-conspirator in the US to buy rhino horns, which were sent in porcelain vases to another person in Hong Kong, in an effort to evade US authorities.According to prosecutors, Mr Li sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to a co-conspirator in the US to buy rhino horns, which were sent in porcelain vases to another person in Hong Kong, in an effort to evade US authorities.
'Good luck' 'Good health'
Mr Li is also accused of trying to buy two rhino horns for $59,000 (£38,000) in a hotel room in Miami in January from an undercover fish and wildlife officer. He also asked the undercover officer to procure more horns and send them to Hong Kong.Mr Li is also accused of trying to buy two rhino horns for $59,000 (£38,000) in a hotel room in Miami in January from an undercover fish and wildlife officer. He also asked the undercover officer to procure more horns and send them to Hong Kong.
Mr Wei, who was sharing the hotel room with Mr Li, later asked an undercover informant to take a fish and wildlife officer out for dinner and offer her money to help Mr Li, prosecutors said. Mr Wei, who was sharing a hotel room with Mr Li, later asked an undercover informant to take a fish and wildlife officer out for dinner and offer her money to help Mr Li, prosecutors said.
Meanwhile, prosecutors say Mr Wang bought libation cups carved from rhino horn in the US and sent them to Mr Li in Hong Kong.Meanwhile, prosecutors say Mr Wang bought libation cups carved from rhino horn in the US and sent them to Mr Li in Hong Kong.
Drinking from intricately carved rhino horn cups is believed to bring good luck, and the cups are highly prized by collectors, US authorities said. Some believe drinking from intricately carved rhino horn cups brings good health, and the cups are highly prized by collectors, US authorities said.
Native to Africa, the black rhinoceros has been listed as an endangered species since 1977, and is now classified as critically endangered, according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Native to Africa, the black rhinoceros is classified as a critically endangered species, according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
But demand for rhino horns and the prices paid for them on the black market have soared in recent years, US prosecutors said.But demand for rhino horns and the prices paid for them on the black market have soared in recent years, US prosecutors said.