In a major blow to wildlife trafficking, Teo Boon Ching, a/k/a “Zhang,” a/k/a “Dato Sri,” a/k/a “Godfather,” a Malaysian national, was extradited to the United States for his alleged involvement in a large-scale conspiracy to traffic in more than 70 kilograms of rhinoceros horns valued at more than $725,000.
The extradition comes after Ching was arrested in Thailand on June 29, 2022, at the request of the United States pursuant to our bilateral extradition treaty. He will appear before Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein this afternoon.
According to the Superseding Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court, Ching was the leader of a transnational criminal enterprise (the “Enterprise”) based in Asia with significant operations in Malaysia and Thailand which engaged in the large-scale international trafficking and smuggling of rhinoceros horns resulting from the poaching of numerous endangered rhinoceros.
Ching served as a specialized smuggler, transporting rhinoceros horns from rhinoceros poaching operations primarily in Africa to the eventual customers primarily in Asia. He also claimed to be able to ship rhinoceros horns to the United States.
From at least in or about July 2019 through at least in or about August 2019, Ching conspired to transport, distribute, sell, and smuggle at least approximately 73 kilograms of rhinoceros horns resulting from the poaching of numerous rhinoceros and having an estimated value of at least approximately $725,472.
Ching was charged with participating in a conspiracy to traffic in more than 70 kilograms of rhinoceros horns valued at more than $725,000 and laundering the proceeds of his illegal rhinoceros horn sales. He was also sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) pursuant to E.O. 13581, as amended.
“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,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.
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.
Defendant: Teo Boon Ching
Criminal Charges: Participating in a conspiracy to traffic in more than 70 kilograms of rhinoceros horns valued at more than $725,000 and laundering the proceeds of his illegal rhinoceros horn sales
City and State: New York
Date: June 29, 2022
Outcome: Extradited to the United States
Dollar Amounts: $725,472
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Wildlife Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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