An important joint operation carried out on 22 December 2025 in Franceville by the Provincial Directorate of Water and Forests and the Judicial Police of Haut-Ogooué, with the support of the NGO Conservation Justice, led to the arrest of three suspected ivory traffickers, all Gabonese nationals, found in possession of ten elephant tusks intended for illegal commercialisation.
Two of the suspects were caught red-handed in possession and attempting to sell the tusks in a public location in Franceville, an activity strictly prohibited under Gabonese law. The third individual, identified as the driver and logistical facilitator, was apprehended shortly afterwards by law enforcement authorities.
The suspects were taken to the Franceville Judicial Police, where they remain in custody pending their transfer to the Special Prosecutor’s Office in Libreville to face prosecution for the alleged offences.
According to provisions of the Gabonese Penal Code (Articles 390 and 398), possession, attempted sale or illegal transportation of ivory is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine equivalent to five times the value of the seized products. In confirmed cases of organised trafficking, penalties may be increased, particularly if suspects are identified as belonging to a structured criminal network operating in an organised group.
Gabon is home to a significant proportion of Central Africa’s forest elephant population, a species classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Despite ongoing efforts by authorities, NGOs and specialised enforcement units, the country continues to face sustained pressure from poaching.
State of Environmental Crime in Gabon
Ivory trafficking and wildlife crime remain persistent challenges in Gabon. In 2022, national authorities, with support from organisations such as Conservation Justice, intensified anti-trafficking operations, resulting in over 13 law-enforcement operations, the arrest of more than 24 individuals, and the seizure of several hundred kilograms of ivory. According to some estimates, over 500 ivory traffickers have been arrested in recent years, with a conviction rate exceeding 90%, significantly higher than the regional average.
Beyond ivory trafficking, Gabon is also confronted with other forms of environmental crime, including illegal logging of precious timber species and poaching of other protected wildlife. Although the law provides for prison sentences of up to 10 years and heavy fines, NGOs and experts continue to call for stronger enforcement capacity, improved judicial follow-up and greater community awareness, in order to sustainably deter environmental crimes.
Fanta Mabo
