Effective collaboration between law enforcement agencies and nature conservationists has led to the cessation of illegal activities by three individuals involved in ivory trafficking. The arrests took place in Lastoursville and Koula-Moutou, where two of the traffickers were apprehended in the act of possessing and attempting to sell precious ivory tusks.
Their capture followed a meticulous operation jointly conducted by the Provincial Directorate of Water and Forests, the Anti-Poaching Directorate, and the Judicial Police branch of Ogooué-Lolo, with crucial support from the NGO Conservation Justice. Thanks to reliable intelligence provided by informants, a surveillance team identified the suspects and intercepted them at an opportune moment.
During the search of a small travel bag carried by one of the individuals, authorities discovered two ivory tusks severed into six pieces, weighing approximately ten kilograms. The suspected traffickers, all Gabonese nationals, admitted their intention to sell the ivory and implicated a third accomplice, who was apprehended the following day following a tip-off.
These illegal activities carry severe penalties, with potential imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines reaching five times the market value of the ivory tusks, in accordance with prevailing laws. It is crucial to emphasize that any form of elephant poaching must be reported to competent authorities to ensure the preservation of these protected species.
This operation underscores the unwavering commitment of authorities and partner organizations to combat ivory trafficking and safeguard wildlife in Gabon.
Boris Ngounou
