In 2015, three perpetrators named Salvius Francis Matembo, Manase Julius Philemon and Yang Feng Glan were found guilty of running one of Africa’s biggest ivory-smuggling rings in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. The latter, Yang Feng Glan, was an influential business woman who was publicly referred to as the “Ivory Queen”. The three individuals were accused of smuggling 860 elephant tusks, worth more than 5.4 billion Tanzanian shilling (around USD 2.5 million) between 2000 and 2014.
In total, 11 witnesses testified against the trio. They were able to report that Yang Feng Glan, the head of the operations, received ivory tusks from the other two perpetrators and shipped them through the port of Dar Es Salaam to Asia. The witnesses were individuals that had been contracted by the perpetrators in the capacity of their respective professions, such as security guard, taxi driver, waiter or banker. The perpetrators denied all accusations; however, the considerable evidence eventually led the judge to rule for a resounding 15 years imprisonment for each of the three culprits. Furthermore, the court ordered buildings used for the illegal operations to be confiscated and a fine double the value of ivory trafficked.
An appeal was rejected in January 2020.
United Republic of TanzaniaSeizure of buildings and a shamba at Muheza Maili Saba
Resident Magistrate's Court of Dar-es-Salaam
Paragraph 4(1)(a) of the first schedule to, and sections 57(1) and 60(2) of, the Economic and Organised Crime Control Act
Leading organised crime
The accused was charged with, on diverse dates between 1 January 2000 and 22 May 2014 within the city and Region of Dar-Es-Salaam, jointly and together, knowingly furnishing assistance and direction in the conduct of the business of criminal racket by collecting, transporting and selling government trophies, namely 860 elephant tusks, valued at TZS 5,435,865,000, without a permit and with intent to benefit and promote further the objectives of the criminal racket.
Sections 80(1) and (2), 84(1) and part 1 of the first schedule the Wildlife Conservation Act, in conjunction with paragraph 14(b) of the first schedule to, and sections 57(1) and 60(2) of, the Economic and Organised Crime Control Act
Unlawful dealing in trophies
The accused was charged with, on diverse dates between 1 January 2000 and 22 May 2014 within the city and Region of Dar-Es-Salaam, jointly and together, carrying out business in government trophies through purchasing and selling 860 pieces of elephant tusks, valued at TZS 5,435,865,000, without a license
Paragraph 4(1)(a) of the first schedule to, and sections 57(1) and 60(2) of, the Economic and Organised Crime Control Act
Leading organised crime
The accused was charged with, on diverse dates between 1 January 2000 and 22 May 2014 within the city and Region of Dar-Es-Salaam, jointly and together, knowingly furnishing assistance and direction in the conduct of the business of criminal racket by collecting, transporting and selling government trophies, namely 860 elephant tusks, valued at TZS 5,435,865,000, without a permit and with intent to benefit and promote further the objectives of the criminal racket.
Sections 80(1) and (2), 84(1) and part 1 of the first schedule the Wildlife Conservation Act, in conjunction with paragraph 14(b) of the first schedule to, and sections 57(1) and 60(2) of, the Economic and Organised Crime Control Act
Unlawful dealing in trophies
The accused was charged with, on diverse dates between 1 January 2000 and 22 May 2014 within the city and Region of Dar-Es-Salaam, jointly and together, carrying out business in government trophies through purchasing and selling 860 pieces of elephant tusks, valued at TZS 5,435,865,000, without a license
Paragraph 4(1)(a) of the first schedule to, and sections 57(1) and 60(2) of, the Economic and Organised Crime Control Act
Leading organised crime
The accused was charged with, on diverse dates between 1 January 2000 and 22 May 2014 within the city and Region of Dar-Es-Salaam, intentionally organising, managing and financing a criminal racket by collecting, transporting and selling government trophies, namely 860 elephant tusks, valued at TZS 5,435,865,000, without a permit.
Sections 80(1) and (2), 84(1) and part 1 of the first schedule the Wildlife Conservation Act, in conjunction with paragraph 14(b) of the first schedule to, and sections 57(1) and 60(2) of, the Economic and Organised Crime Control Act
Unlawful dealing in trophies; On diverse dates between 1st January 2000 and 22nd May 2014 within the city and Region of Dar-Es-Salaam, jointly and together, carried out business in government trophies through purchasing and selling 860 pieces of elephant tusks, valued at 5,435,865,000 Tanzanian Shilling, without a license
Resident Magistrate's Court of Dar-es-Salaam
The case Republic v Salvius Francis Matembo; Manase Julius Philemon; Yang Feng Glan received a wide attention from the media. Yang Feng Glan was identified as the main perpetrator and was soon after referred to as the “Ivory Queen”, making her a notorious king pin.
Intensifying the public interest in the case was the long period of time the illegal business was maintained (14 years); the amount of money generated (5.4 billion Tanzanian shilling - around $US 2.5 million); the iconic specimen trafficked (elephant ivory); and the fact that a female foreigner, who held a public position, was heading the illegal operations.
Adding to the severity of the case was the fact that Yang Feng Glan was involved in several public and private engagements during the time of her arrest. She was the vice-president of the China-Africa Business Council and operating a Chinese restaurant as well as an investment company in Tanzania. Moreover, she was fluent in Swahili, having lived in Tanzania for several years already.
The case was publicly welcomed as the perpetrators were pivotal figures in the illegal scheme and not merely minor players. China has publicly backed Tanzania’s sentence and called for the appropriate application of respective laws.