Kambokin, one of the rosewood exporter kings

The rosewood crisis festered until February 2012, when the moratorium was introduced. Up to that time, one of the main exporters of timber, and a name frequently associated with illicit harvesting of rosewood, is Kambokin Enterprises Limited. That company is registered in Corozal, and when News Five went digging for answers, we found out that the names on record as sole shareholders are Moses Liston Leslie and Sylvestre Tzib. That’s because in December of 2011, Kenny Mark Zheng and Annie Hong Zhu, the principals in Kambokin, waived their rights to take on shares and appointed Leslie and Tzib as sole directors. However, neither Leslie nor Tzib are in either the rosewood or the export business. The man who has been taking some heat for Kambokin is Customs broker Raul Cawich. In February 2013 after the seizure of two containers of rosewood, Chief Forest Officer, Wilber Sabido told the media that his department was working with Cawich and the D.P.P. to make contact with the owner of the containers. Today Cawich told us he has had no contact with Sabido regarding those containers.

Raul Cawich, Customs Broker

Raul Cawich

“To be honest with you, those two containers that were found, no customs broker services were rendered for those. In that interview if I can recall clearly, Mister Sabido said that he was working along with me. At no time, Mister Sabido or any other authority called me or any other authority called me or requested any assistance from me in identifying the owners of those two containers. So in that regards I don’t have any information in relation to those two containers.

Mike Rudon

“Could you verify for me that you are the customs broker record for Kambokin enterprises?”

Raul Cawich

“Yes I have been doing brokerage services for Kambokin Enterprises in the past.”

Mike Rudon

“Now are you aware of the fact that your client, Kambokin Enterprises, the name has come up in an investigation beign done currently on the illegal harvesting of rosewood and exportation of rosewood?”

Raul Cawich

“I have learned about it via the media, but I have no knowledge or information as no one from the forestry or customs or any other department has contacted me in regards to that.  Kambokin is a company engaged in the exportation of lumber; not only from Belize, but from the region—also from Mexico. And we have done a number of exportations and all exportations done on behalf of Kambokin have met all the requirements for custom’s purposes in regards to BAHA permits, forestry permits, supplies control permits and customs. So in that regards I don’t see any illegality in the exportation of it.”

Cawich also says that he has not been called to provide any brokerage services in regards to the Rosewood which was picked up from the Forestry compound on Monday, April eighth. Wilbert Valencia, of Valencia’s Trucking, also visited our studios today to disassociate himself from Kambokin and any allegation of illicit transportation of rosewood. We note that sources have confirmed to us that the documents for the transportation of the rosewood removed from the Forest Department in the Capital were allegedly signed by Chief Forest Officer, Wilber Sabido, who is out of the country.