News
An ivory trafficker arrested with 2 large fresh elephant tusks
Gabon, 29 Aug 2017An ivory trafficker, a repeat offender, arrested with 2 large fresh elephant tusks in Franceville as he attempted to sell the contraband in a courtyard of a hotel. He was previously arrested for ivory trafficking in 2014, while carrying 4 tusks on a train to the capital city, and he spent 6 months in prison. This case points to the necessity of stronger deterring sentences in Gabon, as the current maximum penalty is one of the weakest in Africa.
2 ivory traffickers arrested with 8 tusks
Congo, 29 Aug 20172 ivory traffickers arrested with 8 tusks, cut to 21 pieces and a corruption attempt towards the gendarmerie was combated. They were arrested in an attempt to sell the ivory, concealed in a suitcase. They are well-known repeat offenders, connected to corrupt authorities in the region, and often trafficking ivory across the border from Gabon. One of them, an owner of a hotel, is in the centre of several trafficking rings, well connected to a network of traffickers. The other one has been transporting the ivory to the place of transaction. They were already arrested for ivory trafficking, but were released illegally by the Pointe-Noire court. Now they remain behind bars, awaiting trial.
A baby chimp rescued and a wildlife trafficker arrested
Cameroon, 29 Aug 2017A baby chimp rescued and a wildlife trafficker arrested in the south of the country at a police checkpoint when he trafficked the animal concealed in a handbag placed inside a large plastic sack. He was also trafficking 35 kg of pangolin scales. He has been trafficking several protected species, including primates, and pangolin scales which he was getting from an organized ring of poachers in the area, across the border in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. A taxi carrying the LAGA coordinator of the operation that was on surveillance of the trafficker got into a serious accident just before the arrest. Exemplifying the EAGLE spirit, from the broken vehicle and his head covered in blood, Serge Ania’s words to the team were - "Arrest him for me!". He is recovering after hospital treatment. The one-month-old orphaned baby chimpanzee was found in a state of trauma and malnourished and immediately rushed to the Mefou National Park, where caregivers of the Ape Action Africa quickly provided the appropriate treatment and care.
2 traffickers arrested with a cheetah skin and a leopard skin
Uganda, 23 Aug 20172 traffickers arrested with a cheetah skin and a leopard skin near the Kenya border. They have been trafficking wildlife contraband for several years. The first one was arrested in the act when he tried to sell the cheetah, leopard and 3 python skins. His fellow trafficker was arrested later in his house with 3 more python skins. There are less than 6,800 cheetahs left in the world making it the most endangered feline on the continent. There are less than 30 cheetahs left in Uganda, making this a very meaningful arrest operation.
2 international traffickers arrested with 780 carved ivory items
Senegal, 22 Aug 20172 significant international traffickers arrested in Dakar in two back-to-back operations seizing 780 carved ivory items. They both were arrested in their shops, where they were selling crafts and art, using it as a cover for their illegal activities. Charlotte, the WARA director, led the team in the double-operation with the Senegalese authorities in a dangerous area, and Cecile, the country coordinator, played a crucial role in this crackdown. The traffickers had been also active in Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Burundi and dealt directly with Chinese nationals. The seizure represents a mere snapshot of their international illegal trading. More hippo, warthog and lion teeth were also seized.
5 traffickers arrested with 10 tusks
Uganda, 18 Aug 20175 traffickers, one of them a pastor, arrested in western Uganda with 10 tusks in two back-to-back operations. First two traffickers were arrested with 6 tusks when their car was intercepted at a road check. The third one was arrested while waiting for them in a lodge to get his share of the money. Two other traffickers were arrested soon after in a similar manner.
A trafficker arrested with 215 hippo teeth
Uganda, 18 Aug 2017A trafficker arrested in western Uganda with 215 hippo teeth on the same day. The team continued straight from last operation to this one clamping down on cross-border trafficking with DRC. The trafficker is connected to an army major already arrested a while back. At least 20 hippos were massacred for this single seizure.
2 traffickers arrested with 2 tusks
Uganda, 12 Aug 20172 traffickers arrested with large 2 tusks in western Uganda. One of them is an English teacher at a primary school, so the traffickers were using the school to conceal the contraband, similarly to the last operation in Ivory Coast. They were arrested at the school where they intended to sell it.
2 ivory traffickers arrested with 14 tusks
Benin, 11 Aug 20172 ivory traffickers arrested with 14 tusks. They were arrested in the act with the contraband concealed in a plastic bag. They used to traffic ivory for many years, supplying surrounding countries including Burkina Faso. One of the traffickers is a repeat offender, already arrested for bushmeat trafficking in 2014.
2 ivory traffickers arrested with 4 tusks
Uganda, 9 Aug 20172 ivory traffickers arrested in Kampala with 4 tusks. One of them is an owner of a shop and a manager of a lodge, the other one an employee of another lodge. They were arrested in the act when they were trying to sell the contraband concealed in a bag.
3 ivory traffickers arrested with 2 tusks
Gabon, 1 Aug 20173 ivory traffickers arrested in the capital city. The first two are brothers and were arrested in the act, trying to sell 2 elephant tusks, cut in 4 pieces. They admitted to taking ivory from their uncle who works with them. He is an elephant poacher. He was arrested two days later.
An ivory trafficker arrested with 26kg of ivory
Uganda, 27 Jul 2017An ivory trafficker arrested with 26kg of ivory in the west of the country. She had been involved in trafficking together with her husband for years, using their restaurant as a safe place for their illegal business. She was arrested in the act when she attempted to sell the ivory.
