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Politics

Germany: The Rhino Mafia

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Kiron KreuterJuly 7, 2011

A crime wave is underway ... but not on the wilderness preserves of Africa: Members of the "Rhino Mafia" are increasingly targeting museums in Europe. In broad daylight, two horns were stolen from a stuffed Rhino head at the Oerrel hunting museum in the German state of Lower Saxony.

An entire rhino head was recently stolen from Surrey, England. In Belgium's Lüttich, the thieves struck there, only to be foiled and captured. The horns are in high demand in Asia, where they are pulverized and used medicinally. It is widely believed the rhino powder increases sexual virility. Two horns can net a thief about 25,000 euros.
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