A monkey torture ring sadistically abused and killed baby macaques on camera for clients in the UK and US, an investigation has found.
A year-long BBC investigation found the cruel ring was operating globally with hundreds of Indonesians paying to torture and kill baby long-tailed macaques on video.
An alleged distributor of key videos in the US, known as ‘The King of Torture’, discussed a survey about one of the groups offering the choice of hammers or pliers to be used in torture, adding: ‘It happened from teasing the bottle to fingers being plucked.
The torture ring started on YouTube, before moving to private groups on Telegram, the BBC World Service investigation found.
In the secretly filmed video, M Ajis Rasjana tells an undercover reporter that when he is “very, very angry” he slams the monkeys against the wall.
In the secretly filmed video, M Ajis Rasjana talks to the undercover reporter. He says that if he is ‘very, very angry’ he slams the monkeys against the wall.
Rasjana also points out that about a week ago she hit a monkey’s head against the wall and blood was coming out of her mouth, which she says was “so cool”, while laughing.
He also points out that about a week ago he banged a monkey’s head against the wall and blood was coming out of his mouth, which he says was “so cool,” while laughing.
Police are now searching for the buyers and several arrests have already been made.
BBC journalists infiltrated one of Telegram’s leading torture groups, where hundreds of people came together to brainstorm torture ideas and commission people in Indonesia and other Asian nations to put them into practice.
The group aimed to make personalized videos showing the abuse, torture and sometimes murder of baby long-tailed macaque monkeys.
The BBC located the torturers in Indonesia and the buyers and distributors in the United States.
They also gained access to an international law enforcement effort to punish them for their actions.
At least 20 people are now under investigation around the world, including three women living in the UK who were arrested by police in 2022 and released under investigation, and a man in Oregon, USA, who was charged the last week.
Mike McCartney, reportedly a key video distributor in the US, who is referred to as ‘The King of Torture’ in the videos, described to BBC journalists the moment he joined his first group of monkey torture on Telegram.
McCartney, who according to the BBC used to be a member of a motorcycle gang and was in prison before joining the monkey torture ring, commented: “They had set up a poll.” Do you want a hammer involved? Do you want tweezers involved? Do you want a screwdriver?
He said the video that emerged was “the most grotesque thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
McCartney went on to run several Telegram groups that watched torture enthusiasts distribute videos.
“It’s not unlike drug money,” he said. ‘Drug money comes from dirty hands, this money comes from bloody hands.’
The BBC also identified two other key suspects who are being investigated by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Stacey Storey, a grandmother from Alabama in her 40s known as ‘Sadistic’ among others on the network, and a ringleader known as ‘Mr Ape’, whose real name was not released by the broadcaster for security reasons.
At the end of the video, the reporter asks Rasjana if he can take a picture of one of the monkeys.
‘Mr Ape’ said in an interview with the publication that he had caused the death of at least four monkeys and tortured several more. He said that he had commissioned “extremely brutal” videos.
Agents from the Department of Homeland Security seized Storey’s phone and found nearly 100 torture videos, along with evidence that she had financed the creation of some of the most gruesome videos ever produced.
Storey was involved in a torture group earlier this month, according to police sources. When contacted by the BBC in Alabama in January, Storey said she had been hacked and she would not comment in depth on the allegations.
‘Mr Ape’, Mike McCartney and Stacey Storey are three of five key targets in the Homeland Security investigation, which is ongoing. They have not been charged but could face up to seven years in jail if they are prosecuted and convicted.
The DHS investigation is led by Special Agent Paul Wolpert. He said all law enforcement involved were deeply shocked by the alleged crimes.
“I don’t know if anyone would be prepared for a crime like this,” he said. ‘The same with lawyers and juries, and anyone who reads that this is happening. It will be a surprise, I think.
He added that anyone involved in distributing or buying monkey torture videos should “expect someone to knock on the door at some point.” He said, ‘You’re not going to get away with it.’
Indonesian police have arrested two torture suspects. Asep Yadi Nurul Hikmah, accused of animal torture and sale of a protected species, received a three-year prison sentence. M Ajis Rasjana was sentenced to eight months, the maximum available for animal torture.
I am Rakesh Sharma, I associated with Elite News as an Editor, since 2021. I take care of all the news operations like content, budget, hiring and policy making.