A joint operation carried out in Lambaréné, a town 250 km south of Libreville, by the Anti-Poaching Division (Direction de la Lutte Contre le Poachonnage – DLCB), the Moyen-Ogooué Provincial Department of Water and Forests, the Criminal Investigation Department (Police Judiciaire – PJ) and the NGO Conservation Justice led to the arrest of four individuals involved in the trafficking of ten ivory tusks and a panther skin.
The main suspect, identified by the initials P.O., was apprehended in possession of the trophies while attempting to sell them illegally. His accomplices, L.M., M.N. and D.M., were also arrested for their alleged involvement in the trafficking.
The suspects face up to ten years’ imprisonment and a fine equivalent to five times the value of the products seized, in accordance with articles 390 and 398 of the Gabonese Criminal Code.
Gabon is home to the fifth largest population of elephants on the African continent, with around 95,000 forest elephants, representing a significant proportion of the global population of this species. Despite conservation efforts, wildlife trafficking persists, fuelled by international demand for ivory and other wildlife products.
Initiatives such as training judicial police officers in wildlife legislation are being put in place to step up the fight against this scourge.
This arrest underlines the need to strengthen measures to protect endangered species and to continue efforts to raise awareness and enforce the law in order to preserve Gabon’s biodiversity.
Fanta Mabo
