JOHANNESBURG: Rhino horn smugglers in South Africa are increasingly supplying the jewelry trade, marking a shift away from sales to traditional medicine makers, according to a new report published Monday.
Conservation group TRAFFIC said Chinese gangs were processing horns into beads, bracelets and bangles to supply Asia’s booming luxury goods market while also helping traffickers evade detection at airports.
Julian Rademeyer, a project director at TRAFFIC, said that the market for horn from the endangered species had been transformed in recent years.
“These products are exported and sold as they are, not necessarily to be ground down” as before, he told AFP.
“The rhino market has evolved over the years. The syndicates no longer want to export whole horn.”
Rhino horn is mostly keratin, the same material as human nails, and is believed to cure cancer and other conditions — as well being marketed as an aphrodisiac in Vietnam and China.
“Prior to that, a lot of the demand was for medicinal purposes, and in Vietnam demand for whole horn as a status symbol,” said Rademeyer.
The report, titled “Pendants, Power and Pathways,” revealed that smugglers are disguising rhino horn products as toys, artefacts and even hidden in bags of cashew nuts to avoid security detection.
They also wrap them in aluminum foil and smear them with toothpaste and shampoo to hide the tell-tale smell of decay.
The report revealed that countries including Ethiopia and Kenya played a “pivotal role as transit countries in Africa as they have direct links to Asian countries.”
South Africa’s OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg was also identified as a “key hub” for shipments destined for Asian countries.
Rhino horn smugglers shift to jewelry: Report
Rhino horn smugglers shift to jewelry: Report
Islamophobic attacks on public transport growing in UK
- Muslim travelers restricting journeys over fear of abuse and assault, community groups warn
- Authorities must ‘take urgent and meaningful action,’ says British Muslim Trust CEO
LONDON: Islamophobic attacks are on the rise on public transport across Britain, according to new information revealed by The Guardian, as community organizations warn that Muslims are restricting their journeys over fear of abuse and assault.
A freedom of information request showed that racial hate crimes recorded by British Transport Police across England, Wales and Scotland grew from 2,827 cases in 2019-2020 to 3,258 in 2024-25.
The environment of public transport “creates a particular dynamic where aggressors are often emboldened by alcohol, can isolate their targets and then exit at the next stop,” The Guardian reported.
Hate crimes of a religious nature climbed from 343 cases in 2019-20 to 419 in 2023-24.
Akeela Ahmed, CEO of the British Muslim Trust, said the data reflects the stories her organization has collected from Muslims across the country.
She urged local authorities, transport operators and community safety groups to “take urgent and meaningful action” to address the issue.
“For visible Muslims in particular, the top deck of a bus or a half-empty train carriage can mean threatening behaviour, verbal abuse or even violent attack simply because of their faith,” Ahmed said, adding that Islamophobic attacks on public transport reported to the BMT are “some of the most complex and distressing cases we have handled to date.
“Many Muslims now feel compelled to micro-analyse every movement, expression or gesture out of fear that it may be misinterpreted, recorded and weaponised against them.”
A significant number of physical and verbal attacks against Muslims target children traveling to and from school, Ahmed said, describing this trend as the “most alarming” of all.
“The lack of CCTV coverage on buses and at many stops means perpetrators routinely evade accountability,” she added.
Carol Young, deputy director of the Coalition for Racial Equality, said the recorded figures cited by The Guardian “are probably the tip of the iceberg,” adding: “Anecdotally, we know that using public transport may not feel safe for everyone and some people may avoid using it or restrict their use to certain times of day.”
In response to a request by The Guardian for comment, a spokesperson for British Transport Police said: “Abuse, intimidation and violence — especially that which is motivated by hate — will never be tolerated, and we have acted swiftly and decisively when we receive reports of hate crimes on the rail network.
“If you are a victim of hate crime, or if you witness an incident that makes you feel uncomfortable, please do not suffer in silence.”
