I just heard from one of my clients that U.S. Fish and Wildlife is conducting an investigation involving a South African safari company operating in Zimbabwe. The G-Men have questioned a Midwestern hunter and issued him a subpoena. The G-Men also indicated other hunters would be receiving subpoenas. Does anyone have more information on this? My client said the Zimbabwe government requested the investigation.

Kathi

kathi@wldtravel.com

Kathi,

The Hunting Report had a report on that story in the issue that came out today. I will email it to you.

Richard

Is this Out of Africa?

I hear this is just the beginning. There are going to be some very very unhappy hunters as well as outfitters before this is all said and done.

Hmmmmmmm....I bet this is going to get interesting. Remember what put Al Capone in prison.

Considering current official relations between the US and Zimbabwe one has to wonder why the FWS would even consider doing this.

Odie, I can only surmise that there must be something to it, (The criminal investigation that Zim is requesting at the USA end). Like it or not, Zim is what it is and we have to accept that. That it is a f*#ked up country does not mean we should ignore criminal activity that is linked to the USA.

And if who ever it is at this end that is being investigated is innocent, they will cooperate and want to be cleared.

We shall see.

Don't assume that the US Government is acting in conjunction with Zim Government. Over a year ago I posted a State Department list of people in Zimbabwe that it is illegal to do business with. These people are ZANU hacks and others involved in the Farm siezures and other things happening in Zim. The warning was clear that US citizens who had business dealings with these people and provided them with funds were doing so illegally according to US law and would be prosecuted.

This was poopooed here and a number of posters stated that it would never happen and that they would still go to Zim and take advantage of the situation because the price was right.

It looks like the chickens may be coming home to roost for some of the Americans involved.

I can't say I feel sorry for them.

well,in my opinion the us government sucks..we dont have to much freedom to do as we please as it so appears.the cops have to much a broad area to mess with people/citizens,road blocks/check points,etc.,etc.and that goes for all the cops,to hell with them...everytime someone goes out and shoots someone like the columbine bs,well the ones killed could have been set on fire with gas/soap mix,anyways.there is to much regulation on everything,yes this is out of context with this Discussion,but it all boils down to a country(us)that has messed with to many people/countries and the Us is to mighty to think no one is gonna not do something in return...everybody just needs to leave everybody else alone,no interference whatsoever.course we all know why the usa gets involved with anything "MONEY"!its not a kind gesture,its all about money,isnt every conflict in the past 3 to 4 decades all about money,especially Iraq(oil)...course now look at the rising gas prices,jesus christ!!the us exports oil that we could use!!all of everything the usa is involved in is strictly "BS"....sorry to get off the discussion,but a true fact....

Ok, first, chill out. Breath deep. There, better now? Good.



Now think to yourself,"Paragraphs are my friend", "When posting, I will write in clear terms, what it is I am trying to say, and will do it in paragraph form".



This way people will understand just what the F*** it is you are trying to say!

The following is from the bulletin:

The Hunting Report has just learned that a wide-ranging US Fish and Wildlife Service investigation is underway into hunts being conducted in Zimbabwe by a South African company called Out of Africa Safaris. If you have hunted with this company in the last several years in Zimbabwe and you have been contacted by US Fish & Wildlife Service Special Agents, please let us know, as we are trying to determine whether we should issue a cautionary bulletin, and, if so, what kind.

At this writing, all we know is a hunter from the Midwest (who asked that we not use his name) has been contacted by federal agents, who asked him about a lion they thought he had just hunted in Zimbabwe. It turns out the hunter took the lion in South Africa, not Zimbabwe, and with a company other than Out of Africa. However, he did book the hunt through Out of Africa. Moreover, the hunter did hunt with Out of Africa in Zimbabwe several years ago.

Before leaving, the federal agents issued the Midwestern hunter with a subpoena, demanding that he either produce all his banking and other records relating to his dealings with Out Of Africa or appear in court in California. They indicated to him that other hunters were going to be receiving similar subpoenas soon. It is worth noting that the federal agents told the Midwestern hunter that they had been asked by the Zimbabwe government to investigate Out of Africa.

Here at The Hunting Report, we do not know what the US and Zimbabwe governments are looking for, and we do not know if hunters, as well as Out of Africa, are in any jeopardy. Importantly, we do not have any evidence ourselves that Out of Africa has done anything wrong.

Have you been contacted by federal agents regarding a hunt with Out of Africa? Have any of your friends been contacted? Please let us know if you have, and what you were asked about. Indicate in your reply whether we can use your name in any report we file. - Don Causey, Editor/Publisher.


I just have to reiterate my feelings on the subject. Why on earth would a person want to spend that kind of time and money when they know going in they are dealing with cheats, liars, and worse, stupid people, none of which care about anything but their bottom dollar.

Personally it is my business method not to book clients for travel to Zimbabwe or to even help them with details regardless if they've been before and know everything or not. Just looks like trouble and a slew of unhappy clients to me. JMO.

gotogirl3

Fact At the SCI convention in Reno the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Headed By Mrs T. Musonza and National Parks, represented by T.Gotoza co-operated with US Fish and Wildlife officials in the investigations into Illegal hunting by US Citizens in Zimbabwe.

The US Citizens had been Hunting with Out of Africa through EK safaris.

US citizens are still been taken for a ride. As of today, two US nationals are hunting in Matetsi under a "PH' Dawie van der Weistheizen who is, at present not a licenced PH in Zimbabwe. His licence was suspended for conducting an illegal hunt in Makuti for OoA, and is still under review. With a bit of luck thoese clients will never see their trophies or better yet be prosecuted for illegal hunting.

Be aware that National Parks here is getting shafted by various politacl figures in some safari areas and consiquently are struggeling to pay staff. Consiquently there is not a lot of sympathy for OoA or EK safaris.

NB. On monday this week the Warden of Matetsi safari area was arrested for accepting 52 Million Zim (100k US) in Bribes from OoA and EK safaris. ( they paid him by cheque! We could even trace the numbers!!!!!)

Whay don't Zim stop the rot? well that's life in africa with a bob arround.

Ganyana,

Do you have any suggestions of how people can avoid dealing with shady outfits?

I know this a rather broad question, but aren't both OoA and EK safaris licensed to conduct hunts in Zimbabwe?

This question came up this afternoon here in our workshop, and I honestly could not answer it.

I dont like a lot of what our government does either. However you paint with a very broad brush and tarnish a lot of great people. Maybe a little anger management is in order. The bottom line on this one is if you are not breaking the law you dont have anything to worry about. As far as the US cooperating with Zim. It was the other way around. The folks from Zim had warrants for OOA at the convention and didnt serve them at the request of the US. Money laundering can be involved in all kinds of unpleasantness and diverted to people you really would prefer dead. Maybe some of the other people can comment but I have seen these setups in the past with regards to narcotics. IT is basically the same game. PErhaps you should check you sources of information if you have any. I am sure they could enlighten you.

jds:

In the old country expression: " Don't argue with a skunk". Gee! I lived through police oppression when they didn't have to give me Miranda warnings. In fact, for no reason at all except the cop's instinct, he could walk up to me and demand that I show him some identification and just what was I doing lounging outside the bank? I lived through that "terrible time". Funny, I don't remember that I suffered so much. I'm glad that I have been saved from police brutality and oppression. Of course, now we have situations where police officers can't stop anyone because they have a "gut feeling" that there is something "wrong" about this guy - but, hey! We have to protect "civil rights"! This can result in experienced criminals going free because the evidence of a loaded handgun in the possession of criminals was "inadmissible' in evidence because the officer had no "right" to stop the car at all. (Forgive my bitterness. I come from a state where a state trooper stopped a stationwagon at night, walked around and opened the back door and found a body. "Illegal search". You won't mind will you officer, if I ask you for help instead of my law courts who have gone mad? (And yes, I'm a lawyer. We don't all think like morons)

Considering the complete disregard for private property rights in Zimbabwe, among many other illegal activities sponsored by the ruling regime, I find it fucking incredible that anyone in US law enforcement would honor ANY official Zim request.

Gatogordo, you are absolutely correct....unless there are violations here in the USA as well. In the big picture of things we could care less what problems Zim government is experiencing. No more than we would give a rats ass about criminal activity in Cuba. However, if Fidel called up and said "hey, this outfit is doing _____ in your country too", people would pay attention.

One can only speculate what would perk the ears up of the USF&W or other fed investigator types. Illegal trophy importation? Money laundering? Income tax evasion?

I suspect that the USF&W isn't doing this because things are slow around the office.

I am sure the Lacey Act applies. However, it will probably be tax violations that sink them. You could also make an argument for RICO.

I think the prosecutions will be limited to the Lacey Act. This has nothing to do with tax fraud, and unless the American client was actively planning which stolen land to hunt on and who to bribe to get there, a RICO prosecution is pretty much out of the question.



The American clients hunting with Out of Africa were hunting on stolen land, and their hunt was an act of theft under U.S. law. This has nothing to do with supporting the Mugabe regime - it has to do with protecting the rights of ranch owners in ZIM who have had their land stolen (and who are mostly white by the way). I think the gentlemen above who got their feathers ruffled ought to re-think their position on this one.

Time will tell on this investigation and it will probably take at least several months. But if money in six digit figures+ is being shell-gamed back and forth between two continents, you can bet that the IRS will be interested. It stands to reason that if it was hidden from taxes in Zim, it probably wasn't declared in the USA either.

Just a guess on my part based on what is already taking place. Fed agencies don't subpoena people and their bank records for "shits and grins".

Who evaded U.S. taxes?

As I understand it, the American client wrote a check to Out of Africa Safaris. No violation of U.S. tax law there, as the American client received no income. The illegal activity of the American client was hunting on stolen land (Lacy Act).

This is another example where some actual facts might help discussions instead of endless spectulation on spectulation on spectulation.

No offence intended to Ganyana here, but how is anyone supposed to hunt legitimately in Zim? Organised Crime and the Governemnt are inseperable over there;they are one and the same thing! If you spend your $$$ and support one, you are supporting the other.



And I find it amazing that any American Law inforcement agency is co-operating with the Zim Governement...its no different then them co-operating with a request from the Mafia!



Regards,



Pete

And how is it the US (or any other) client is suppose to know whether they are hunting illegally in Zim?



You are walking down the convention floor and sign up for a hunt at OoA. You show up in Zim by plane or car, and have no idea where the hell you are, or whether it is legal or not.



When was the last time you looked at your PH's license or the outfitter's license? And in a land of gov't crooks, how are you to know whether the license is legal, much less legal in the eyes of USF&W?



Terry: I have an idea that a signed contract doesn't mean squat here.



I have talked to OoA over the last few years (actually headquartered a few miles from me). They were always too expensive for my tastes but until of late never gave a thought as to whether they were running legal or illegal operations. No more than any other outfitter in Zim.



Oh, it is easy to be self-righteous in front of a PC.



It will be interesting to find out (if ever) what the REAL story is behind all this. It may be possible that all this interest is being generated because OoA is U.S.-based and has little to do with Zim. The favorite ploy: prosecute the guys you can catch.

USFWS is probably investigating a) whether proper documentation was provided with trophy shipments, b) whether illegal 'acts' occurred while hunting (Lacey Act).

They have their own enforcement agents, so if the FBI is involved we're probably talking RICO statute, correct?

If the proper reporting of transactions exceeding $10000US was not followed, then the IRS will get involved.

It sure sounds like OoA is looking at serious legal expenses.

George

EK safaris is locally registered.

OoA is not licenced to conduct safaris in Zimbabwe. They are officailly booking agents who take their clients to a licenced operator.

US Fish & Wildlife are concerned with the importation of stolen property into the US (ie animals poached on occupied farms) and animals illegally hunted.

US interacts with Zim on two levels. On a government to government level they are pretty hostile (not hostile enough in my personal opinion but still...)

On a department to department level - the relationship is still very cordial. On Wildlife Matters, Zimbabwe's input and research has been crutial to US wildlife pollicy at CITES since well before COP 7. (The official documention still states that we will support US cougar figures and they will support our leopard figures, etc). US funding and backing has been crutial to allowing the sport hunting of elephant and leopard thoughout Africa, but it has usually been a case of Zim research and US $ and political muscle.

The "average" civil servant in Zim, particularly at a medium to senior level is anti the government and interested in doing what is right for our country and , in park's case - conservation.

The Lacey Act, 16 U.S.C. �� 3371-3378, protects both plants and wildlife by creating civil and criminal penalties for a wide array of violations. Most notably, the Act prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported or sold. Thus, the Act underscores other federal, state, and foreign laws protecting wildlife by making it a separate offense to take, possess, transport, or sell wildlife that has been taken in violation of those laws. The Act prohibits the falsification of documents for most shipments of wildlife (a criminal penalty) and prohibits the failure to mark wildlife shipments (civil penalty). The Lacey Act is administered by the Departments of the Interior, Commerce, and Agriculture through their respective agencies. These include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

In 1988, the role of guiding or outfitting services were added to cover a new threat to big game species under the ambit of "sale." Prior to the amendment, big game guides who provided illegal hunts were immune to prosecution for violation based on commercial activity. The amendments also created a separate and distinct violation for the intended falsification of documents pertaining to the exporting, importing, or transporting of wildlife, fish, or plants. The felony provision of this part of the act was amended such that one could be convicted if he or she either knew of the import or export of the species or where he or she was involved in the sale or purchase of wildlife, fish, or plants with a market value greater than $350.

Interesting in that I am aretired G-man, the fact that a supoenae was issued means a grand jury is entertaining evidence of some type of crime, the fact that a FWS agent served the papers implies that it is a law under which they have jurisdiction to investigate (endangered species and so on) if it was money laundering it would have been FBI or IRS, importation violations would have involved Customs. That doesn't mean these other agencies won't become involved if the grand jury uncovers other crimes.
Now I do not know if the US has treaties with the Zim Gov't, if not neither will help each other in an investigation other than to recieve information on possible crimes, I have assisted other govermnets who requested investigative support through treaties but in those circumstances information was forwarded to the foreign agency. The fact that the FWS had a supoena for records or show up in court in Calif implies to me that the crime is believed to have occurred in that area since jurisdiction issues comes into play.

As far as "checking out" people and companies for bad apples it is very difficult without conducting your own investigation, to rely on references that comes from the people you are contemplating dealing with is no "bullet proof" method. Most law enforcement or governmental agencies will not release information due to the numerous disclosure laws,(came about as a results of all these people who are anti-government) public records will only carry information on convictions or settlements and those would be in the jurisdiction unless it is federal.
My guess is to request feedback from people on forums like this one for info they know of or heard of and then follow up or deal with reputable booking agents who cannot afford to get involve with rip offs, like the old saying goes "If it sounds to good to be true it probably is false"
For all you guys that can't stand Uncle Sam, my question to you why are you still here??, make room for those that want to live here. If you find a better place why don't you post it for all of us, granted no place is perfect but give me a break.

I understand that EK safaris and HHK safaris are in some sort of a legal battle in Zimbabwe.

I wonder if this has any bearing on what is happening here.

I will let this thing play out a little before I make any judgments but I will say this...Everytime I visit a foriegn country, I sure am glad to get home, and it always gives me an appreciation for what we have here...

I love our cops, firemen, and military..About the only thing I have a distaste for is these whining SOBs that put my country down, and BTW I have that right in this country, I don't have to accept their shit.

We are truly a free society and the desenters on here who really have no clue, would be jailed or executed for making such remarks in a lot of countries..

We are truly a free society and the desenters on here who really have no clue, would be jailed or executed for making such remarks in a lot of countries..

---

well said!!

Tell it to the folks that were at Ruby Ridge and the Branch Davidian.

I remember some pretty clear emails and posts about the activities of OaA on here and elsewhere and their alledged "operations" on stolen farms.

I guess some of the "trophies" have now been imported and a paper trail is being followed.

Lets hope if the allegations are true we one day hear some cell door bang shut for a year or two.

It may just a little help encourage other alledgedly unscrupulous outfitters and agents not to loot and pillage other countries resources for their own short term gain. I hope some of the clients get a reaming too. As MANY of them would be fully aware of what they were doing and why their prices were so bloody good.

My guess is the outfitters and agents being investigated failed to grease the right black palms sufficiently (in my opinion of course ).

HHK is not in trouble. Also, I believe they were just awarded rights to Matetsi 1.

One of our other members is hunting with them now in Deka.

Hi Saeed, and others

For the record, Matetsi Unit I is leased to Matetsi Wildlife, and has been since 1997. I set the quota's and drew up the auction brochure for the lease of Unit 1 and Unit 3. Pim Smythe and the lads who bought unit 3 have subsiquently sold out (sadly)

Matetsi unit 1 ran smoothly with the operations their being run by HHK- a company in the same group as Matetsi Wildlife (as an outsider, I wouldn't even pretend to know the ownership and structure of the group).

A former partner in Matetsi Wildlife decidd that he could have it all, and in the middle of 2002 bullied parks into giving him the quota for the area as well as Matetsi Wildlife. Things got messy. It went to court - especially as the new "operator" looted HHK and matetsi wildlife property, even down to stealing food and beding!

You can buy a judge in Zimbabwe but not yet the supreme court and on the 7th of Jan this year, the ruling was handed down that Matetsi wildlife were the only people entitled to hunt unit 1 -or else. Parks ducked and dived as usual as political battles behind the sceens were fought, but today we issued matetsi Wildlife/HHK with the quota for Unit 1 for 2004.

No quota has been issued to anybody else to hunt on unit 1 this year.

In the camp when I visited in the run up to this, The whole of southern Matetsi and most of the occupied farms in the Gwaii were marked on the map in the Unit 1 camp as being EK/OoA concession areas. This is obviously not true.

For the record

Unit 2& 4 Enos Dube and Mike Chidziva (awarded back in 1988)
Unit 1 - Matetsi Wildlife/HHK awarded 1997
Unit 3 - Jacob mudenda and new partner, originally awarded back in 97 but remoulded since. Nyati hunters isn't the company it once was.
Unit 5 - Parks from this year, with marketing by SMMS/HHK
Unit 6 Mrs J. Chiwenga - wife of the army comander (and possibly Don Bowers as a minor shareholder still). She and her original partner paid about US$80,000- oo for the lease.