A recent operation carried out on September 5, 2026, in Ovan, in the Mvoung Department, by the Water and Forests Administration and the Judicial Police of Makokou, with support from the NGO Conservation Justice, led to the arrest of three suspected ivory traffickers. They were found in possession of six elephant tusks, cut into twelve pieces.
During the operation, four people were initially arrested. Three of the four alleged traffickers were caught in the act of attempting to sell the six elephant tusks, which had been cut into twelve pieces. The fourth person, identified as the driver, was arrested separately. Although he had acted as a transporter, he was subsequently excluded from the proceedings due to insufficient evidence establishing his connection to the trafficking operation.
Once the investigation was completed, the three suspects were brought before the competent prosecutor’s office in Libreville. Following their appearance on September 11, 2026, before the specialized Public Prosecutor’s Office, the three suspects were placed in pre-trial detention.
It is important to recall that the possession, sale or attempted sale of ivory are offences punishable under Gabonese law. Articles 390 and 398 of the Criminal Code provide, among other penalties, prison sentences of up to 10 years, as well as fines that can reach five times the value of the seized products.
The recurrence of wildlife crimes in Gabon, despite the efforts of the Water and Forests Administration, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary and partner environmental NGOs, highlights the need to strengthen field-based anti-trafficking efforts. Environmental crime can range from local poaching to organized transnational trafficking, with potentially serious consequences not only for ecosystems but also for broader security.
Fanta Mabo
