Follow the social media
discussion #AJwildlife
The show will be available online on Aljazeera on Friday from 8am onwards, Malaysian time.
PETPOSITIVE NEWS!
Al Jazeera’s 101 East tracks down one of the world’s most notorious
wildlife criminals
Convicted smuggler Anson Wong is discovered still operating his
multi-million dollar illegal business, with the help of government officials
Malaysia, 17 November 2013: Anson Wong is one of the world’s most infamous wildlife traffickers,
convicted twice of smuggling exotic wildlife across international borders.
Working with anti-trafficking groups, 101 East goes undercover to expose Anson
Wong’s Malaysian-based operation – and the officials who allow it.
The illegal trade in wildlife is thought to be worth at least $19
billion a year. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the world’s wildlife black
market is rivaled in size only by the illicit trade in drugs and arms. The US State Department says trafficking not only undermines
conservation, it also threatens the rule of law and is a risk to global health.
“He’s almost public enemy
number one for us in terms of his reputation” - Durrell Wildlife Conservation
Trust:
For more than two decades, Anson Wong has been the internationally
recognised ‘face’ of the trade.The Malaysian’s notoriety stems from 1998 when
he was arrested by US agents after they lured him to Mexico in a highly elaborate
five-year investigation that became a best-selling book, ‘The Lizard King’. He
was later convicted for smuggling endangered species and sentenced to 71 months
in prison.
In 2010, Wong was caught trying to transit to Jakarta with 95 boa
constrictors.Initially sentenced to five years in jail, his term was cut to 17
months on appeal and Wong was released in February 2012.
Recently, new reports have surfaced of his return to the illegal
wildlife trade. In Madagascar’s
capital of Antananarivo,
the son of a presidential candidate introduces undercover reporter Steve Chao
to one of his contacts, who shows
him samples of endangered tortoises and promises that with the help of customs
officials on-the-take, he will be
able to ship hundreds at a time to a destination of Chao’s choosing.
In Indonesia,
Daniel Tanuwidjaja, one of Wong’s trusted distributors, claims he pays off
wildlife and customs officials in both Indonesia
and Malaysia
to allow for shipments from Wong. He also says that the Lizard King
continues to deal, and that Wong’s wife is increasingly involved in the
business.
Steve Chao then travels t0 Wong’s hometown of Penang, Malaysia,
where he follows a paper trail of public records to various properties owned by
the Lizard King, his family and associates. There he uncovers shell companies
used to hide the illicit trade in reptiles, and also stumbles on a number of
exotic wildlife buyers. After a year-long investigation, Steve Chao finally
tracks down the Lizard King. And in a final confrontation,
he presents to him the evidence 101 East has gathered.
Al Jazeera’s 101 East Return of The Lizard KingpremieresThursday
21 November at 22.00GMT, with the first repeat Friday 22 November at 09.30 GMT.
Join the twitter discussion using #AJwildlife.
-
ENDS-
Return of the Lizard King 15 second promo http://youtu.be/l5aHZB0MnJI
Return
of the Lizard King 2 minute teaserhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgfH7r2arT8
Follow the social media
discussion #AJwildlife
· Join
the Twitter discussion with @SteveChaoSC and @AJ101East during
the premiere and on 21 November at 22.30 GMT and first repeat 22
November at 09.30GMT.
·
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