Africa: Blow Against Wildlife Mafia

The leader of one of the most successful wildlife trafficking cartels in southern Africa has been sentenced to 14 years in prison in Malawi.

14 Years in Prison for Gang Leader

Chinese national Yun Hua Lin was the head of the «Lin-Zhang Gang», which has operated out of Malawi for at least a decade. On 28 September 2021, he was convicted in court of trafficking and possession of rhino horn and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Upon completion of his sentence, he will be deported to China.

Judge Violet Chipao emphasised that traders encouraged poaching and therefore needed to receive a harsher sentence than poachers as a deterrent: «The rhino horn pieces did not come from one rhino, but from five different rhinos. Furthermore, the court is of the opinion that Yun Hua Lin was the mastermind, as all the properties on which the specimens were found belong to him.»

14 Gang Members Convicted

With the conviction of Yun Hua Lin, a total of 14 members of the Lin-Zhang Gang have been taken off the streets. Ten Chinese nationals and four Malawians were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 18 months to 11 years for various offences related to the possession of firearms and protected species, including pangolins, rhino horns, hippopotamus teeth, and elephant ivory.

«We are very pleased that this notorious king of wildlife crime has finally been sentenced to a stiff penalty of 14 years in prison, and are confident that this sends a clear message to other wildlife criminals who plunder Africa’s natural resources that they are not beyond the reach of the law», said Mary Rice, Executive Director of the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA).

«It is of critical importance that wildlife criminals feel the full force of the law. Malawi is no longer a playground for people like the Lin-Zhang syndicate, who exploit our natural heritage, damage our economy, incite corruption, and pose a threat to national security. This is indeed a victory for Malawi – and a victory for the wildlife of our country in particular", said Brighton Kumchedwa, Director of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife in Malawi.