Thirteen tusks confiscated in Kavango
Thirteen elephant tusks were confiscated during a joint operation by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Namibian Police in the Kavango East Region on Tuesday night.
According to the police one Namibian and two Angolans were arrested by the anti-poaching unit while trying to sell 13 elephant tusks.
Two other suspects, who are also believed to be Angolans, apparently fled to Angola. The police are requesting information from the community that may lead to their arrest.
The joint patrol was a response to a tip-off from members of the public who alerted the authorities. The suspects are due to appear in court on charges that include possession of controlled wildlife products.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night at about 23:45 at Tjova village in the Mukwe District in Kavango East. The village is located about 55km from Divindu.
Deputy Commissioner William Peter, who is the second in command of the Elephant Tusk Bwabwata Operation, said the Angolans were also charged with contravening the Immigration Control Act as they had entered Namibia illegally.
Their names could not be released yesterday as they will only appear in court today.
Peter said the success of the operation was due to the cooperation of the community.
“Hence we are calling on community members to provide more information with regard to illegal hunting.”
He urged anyone with information on people who still possess unregistered firearms and ammunition to report them to the police.
The ministry of environment and tourism said the value of the recovered tusks had not been determined.
In a statement issued yesterday the ministry said it took illegal position of prohibited wildlife products very seriously and would increase its efforts in combating poaching.
“This should serve as a warning to poachers that our officials and other relevant authorities are on the ground to eliminate the threat of poaching and other wildlife-related activities,” it said.
The ministry thanked the people who were helping in the fight against poaching.
ELLANIE SMIT
According to the police one Namibian and two Angolans were arrested by the anti-poaching unit while trying to sell 13 elephant tusks.
Two other suspects, who are also believed to be Angolans, apparently fled to Angola. The police are requesting information from the community that may lead to their arrest.
The joint patrol was a response to a tip-off from members of the public who alerted the authorities. The suspects are due to appear in court on charges that include possession of controlled wildlife products.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night at about 23:45 at Tjova village in the Mukwe District in Kavango East. The village is located about 55km from Divindu.
Deputy Commissioner William Peter, who is the second in command of the Elephant Tusk Bwabwata Operation, said the Angolans were also charged with contravening the Immigration Control Act as they had entered Namibia illegally.
Their names could not be released yesterday as they will only appear in court today.
Peter said the success of the operation was due to the cooperation of the community.
“Hence we are calling on community members to provide more information with regard to illegal hunting.”
He urged anyone with information on people who still possess unregistered firearms and ammunition to report them to the police.
The ministry of environment and tourism said the value of the recovered tusks had not been determined.
In a statement issued yesterday the ministry said it took illegal position of prohibited wildlife products very seriously and would increase its efforts in combating poaching.
“This should serve as a warning to poachers that our officials and other relevant authorities are on the ground to eliminate the threat of poaching and other wildlife-related activities,” it said.
The ministry thanked the people who were helping in the fight against poaching.
ELLANIE SMIT
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