Time-to-crime and Gun Trafficking-Exposed

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RogerFraser
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Time-to-crime and Gun Trafficking-Exposed

Post by RogerFraser »

https://carteblanche.dstv.com/time-to-c ... afficking/

Time-to-crime is a widely used method of determining whether guns were trafficked. It is a measurement of the span of time that elapsed between the point at which a gun was first bought at a gun store and the point at which it was recovered by law enforcement. A gun with a short time-to-crime—anything less than two or three years—is a strong indication that the buyer intended to divert the weapon for criminal use.

Time-to-crime was one of the many tools that the Conflict Awareness Project (CAP) relied upon to build evidence against the key players behind South Africa’s escalating rhino poaching crisis. CAP’s three-year-long investigation found that a highly organised criminal network funneled high-calibre hunting rifles from Europe to Mozambique, then distributed them among rhino poachers operating across the border in the Kruger National Park. These rifles became a game-changer, enabling the rhino syndicates to churn out more horn than at any time in recent memory.

Using various types of records, CAP was able to piece together the movements of dozens of these high-calibre rifles and found that their time-to-crime was often mere months. That is a remarkably short period. For context, compare it to the average time-to-crime of a gun recovered in the United States, which in 2016 was nearly 10 years.

Using sales records and the case numbers associated with recovered poaching rifles, CAP was able to approximate the time-to-crime of nearly 20 of the rifles purchased and found that they were usually recovered by law enforcement within a year. CAP estimated that one of the rifles was actually recovered within weeks of its first retail sale. This is evidence of illegal distribution of rifles to poachers.

Law enforcement needs to shift its focus away from the low-level rhino poachers operating on the ground and aggressively go after the upper echelons of the syndicates. CAP’s analysis demonstrates how law enforcement can use time-to-crime and a follow-the-guns methodology to unmask the ‘higher-ups’ who are aiding and abetting these wildlife crimes on a historic scale. Using these invaluable tools will help law enforcement stamp out the slaughter. But they need to start using them. If they fail, then all of Africa’s rhinos will soon go extinct.


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Re: Time-to-crime and Gun Trafficking-Exposed

Post by Richprins »

Very good this! :ty:

I don't think it will make much difference should these guns be stopped, but the episode does show that those fighting poaching are very determined indeed and think out of the box. Well done to this lady. :yes:


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Re: Time-to-crime and Gun Trafficking-Exposed

Post by Lisbeth »

Don't the criminals remove the serial numbers from the rifles? In the TV serials they always do =O:

Well done to the CAP \O


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Re: Time-to-crime and Gun Trafficking-Exposed

Post by RogerFraser »

Lisbeth wrote: Mon Jun 25, 2018 5:57 pm Don't the criminals remove the serial numbers from the rifles? In the TV serials they always do =O:

Well done to the CAP \O
Apparently they have started to do this since they figured out how she was tracking them .Not very bright criminals yet we don't seem able to catch them 0*\


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Re: Time-to-crime and Gun Trafficking-Exposed

Post by Lisbeth »

Not easy to find the right people to fight this battle, which is also a dangerous one.


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Re: Time-to-crime and Gun Trafficking-Exposed

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Media Release: SANParks sets the record straight on Carte Blanche story related to gun trade

26 June 2018

South African National Parks (SANParks) would like to state categorically that a story that appeared on Carte-Blanche on Sunday, 24 June 2018 by Ms Kathi Lynn Austin alleging that SANParks senior personnel together with members of the South African law enforcement agencies could by implication be involved through action or neglect, in “gun trade” destined for poaching activities in the Kruger National Park is characterised by inaccuracies and is regrettable.

Against hard statistical facts on successes recorded on combating rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park specifically, the programme continued to insinuate that “we are losing the fight against rhino poaching”, which is completely not true.

What the programme failed to cover is a fact that SANParks is governed by the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) which limits its operations within protected areas or national parks. Therefore SANParks Environmental Crime Investigators (ECI) would not have been in a position to pursue gun smugglers as they are not mandated to carry out such operations.

According to SANParks this has unfortunately cast doubt on the tremendous amount of work and the great strides that have been achieved in the anti-poaching campaign and unduly discredited the role that SANParks continues to play as a conservation agency. Men and women in our parks put their lives on the line daily and are committed to the rhino campaign and to doing their utmost to seeing an end to the poaching scourge.

It has to be noted that the interview footage that was utilised, was conducted with Major General (Ret) Johan Jooste of SANParks in 2015. It is not current as is portrayed in the programme and has been used to bias the opinion of viewers.

It needs to be emphasised that from the very first informal meeting held with Ms Austin’s on her request, it was made clear to her that whilst her mission to expose gun supplying networks to poachers will be supported through legal means, she could never be resourced for or included in any project.

During 2015 SANParks ECI unit compiled a list of confiscated fire-arms seized from suspected poachers of which the contents were shared with Ms Austin and subsequently handed over to the relevant law enforcement agencies. The matter was also raised with Czech Armory (CZ), the international rifle manufacturers who promised to follow the correct channels to express their concerns. Therefore, insinuations made on Carte Blanche implicating Major Gen Jooste in criminal activities are wrong and highly counter-productive to follow-up investigations into the supplying of guns to would-be poachers.

All the parties involved including Interpol, knew about the consignment of CZ weapons from Portugal to Mozambique and deliberated on possible actions. It was made clear that there was nothing illegal about the transaction and that no intervention could be made. With this coming from the SAPS, it is hard to understand that there was any expectation of such a long-distance intervention on a legal transaction between two sovereign states. Even more so from any SANPaks official as such a matter simply falls outside the mandate of the organization.

It is our view that despite repeated caution by SANParks and various law enforcement agencies, Ms Austin’s agenda is highly detrimental to the work SANParks continues to do and to many facets of investigations currently underway. Her biased approach is unnecessarily casting doubt on the SANParks’ proven commitment to fight wild life crime and corruption and SANParks accordingly rejects the negative statements made on the Carte Blanche programme. In this instance this programme has contributed negatively to the combating of illicit wildlife crime, which is highly regretted.

Issued by:
South African National Parks Communications
Tel: 012 426 5170

Media enquiries:
Janine Raftopoulos
SANParks Head of Communications
Tel: 012 426 5170, cell: 071 444 3121
Email: janine.raftopoulos@sanparks.org

https://www.sanparks.org/about/news/?id=57528


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Re: Time-to-crime and Gun Trafficking-Exposed

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Therefore, insinuations made on Carte Blanche implicating Major Gen Jooste in criminal activities are wrong

I didn't pick up these insinuations...? -O- :-?


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Re: Time-to-crime and Gun Trafficking-Exposed

Post by Lisbeth »

Neither did I -O- At least not reading Roger's post. I do not know what they said during the TV program.


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Re: Time-to-crime and Gun Trafficking-Exposed

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One can watch it online somewhere... :-?


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