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Navara (poacher)

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Mozambician poacher
Navara
BornSimon Ernesto Valoi
1977 (age 46–47)
Other namesSimon Tivani
OccupationRhinoceros poacher
Criminal chargesPoaching
Criminal penalty30 years
Criminal statusIncarcerated

Simon Ernesto Valoi (born c. 1977), nicknamed Navara, is a convicted Mozambician rhinoceros poacher.

Biography

Navara was born c. 1977. His first crimes were stealing cars, where he got his nickname of Navara, because he often stole the Nissan Navara. He is also a fugitive wanted for two murder charges in South Africa. He poached rhinos in Kruger National Park, and controlled about 15 different poaching gangs. He lived in a mansion in the Massingir district that he constructed using profits from his poaching.

In 2015, Valoi was responsible for the kidnapping of Bartholomäus Grill [de] of Der Spiegel, during which he threatened his life. Valoi was not arrested by the Massingir police, instead, Grill was fined for trespassing on Valoi's property.

On 26 July 2022, Valoi was arrested in a sting operation alongside an associate, Paulo Zukula in Maputo for possessing eight rhino horns, weighing 7.5 kilograms (17 lb), worth $470,000, from the Gaza Province. Pretending to be corrupt, they gave him a wiretapped mobile phone for him to make calls with, which they used to arrest his other associates. He was re-arrested in 2023, and is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence.

References

  1. "Mozambique: Rhino poaching kingpin detained – AIM report". Club of Mozambique. 1 August 2022.
  2. Jooste, Johan; Park, Tony (July 2022). Rhino War: A General's Bold Strategy in the Kruger National Park. Pan Macmillan South africa. ISBN 978-1-77010-791-5.
  3. Miniter, Frank (29 June 2019). "The Underground Market-Driven Truth About Africa's Rhino War". Forbes.
  4. Valoi, Estacio (March 2017). "Mozambique's poaching castles are crumbling".
  5. Grill, Bartholomäus (3 December 2015). "In the Clutches of Rhino Poachers". Der Spiegel.
  6. "Mozambique: 'Navara', leader of notorious poaching gang arrested – AIM". Club of Mozambique. 29 July 2022.
  7. Valoi, Estacio (1 August 2022). "Mozambique busts notorious rhino poacher". Mongabay.
  8. "Mozambique: Poaching ringleader detained for second time". Club of Mozambique. 17 April 2023.
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