WINDHOEK – A total of 11 elephant tusks were discovered buried in a bedroom in Chotto informal settlement in the Zambezi Region last weekend.
The arrests and discoveries of these buried elephant tusks follow a joint operation between the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Namibia Police at the weekend.
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism spokesperson Romeo Muyunda yesterday said the 11 elephant tusks were found and confiscated in Chotto compound in Katima Mulilo.
He noted one man was arrested and charged with possession and dealing of controlled wildlife products.
“There was a joint operation between MET and the police. They searched the house in Chotto. They found or discovered these elephant tusks buried in a bedroom near the bed. The tusks were confiscated and a suspect was arrested,” he revealed.
In another incident, Muyunda revealed that the same operation led to five pieces of elephants’ tusks that were also discovered and confiscated in Lubuta village, situated west of Katima Mulilo.
In this incident, he said a male suspect was apprehended while the other three suspects ran away during a joint operation in the area of Lubuta village. The arrested suspect is a 28-years old Zambian national.
“They were found in the village. Those involved in the joint operation discovered elephant tusks that were cut into five pieces in the west of Katima Mulilo,” he confirmed.
Meanwhile, at Sacona village in the same region, two suspects, a male and a female were apprehended in possession of two live pangolins. Muyunda said all two suspects are Namibians, the other two suspects managed to run. Case CR15/06/2019 was opened for possession and dealing in controlled wildlife products.
All these incidences took place on Sunday.
He said the environment ministry commends the Namibian Police as well as its officials for their hard work and determination in making these significant busts.
According to Muyunda, the arrests as well as the confiscation of ivory in the joint operations is a boost to the ministry’s anti-poaching efforts. Hence, he said the ministry warn those involved in such activities to stop or risk been caught to face the full wrath of the law with increased fines. Legislation that deals with wildlife protection and law enforcement matters, the Nature Conservation Ordinance, 1975 (Ordinance 4 of 1975), was amended to increase fines and penalties for poaching of rhinos and elephants and other related offences, which will enhance their deterrent effect.
The amendment seeks to increase fines for rhino and elephant poachers from the current maximum of N$200 000 to N$25 million.
Equally, the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Act, 2008 (Act 8 of 2008) was amended to increase penalties for those found in possession of wildlife products, more particularly rhino horns and elephant tusks. hoto: contributed