Two people shall appear in the High Court of Tibati on October 22nd to answer to charges of illegal possession of giant pangolin scales.
They were arrested attempting to sell the scales on July 3 in Tibati during a crackdown operation carried out by wildlife officials of the Djerem Divisional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife in collaboration with the Gendarmerie Company of Tibati, technical assisted by the Last Great Ape Organisation – LAGA.
The suspects were found with two bags of giant pangolin scales close to a bus station. The scales were wrapped in cardboard boxes and concealed in the grain bags.
Close to 90kg of giant pangolin scales were seized. According to sources close to the case that requested for anonymity, the alleged traffickers belong to a large wildlife network that activate a host of poachers who mostly collected the scales in villages around Tibati.
The network includes hunters, bike riders and public transport drivers. They equally sell their booty to towns like Yoko, Ntui, Yaounde, Douala and Ngaoundere.
The two suspects lastly appeared in the High Court of Tibati on October 8th where the case was adjourned to October 22nd to debate on their bail request. They are at the Tibati prison for continuation of the procedures.
The illegal trade and poaching of pangolin remain the highest threat to the survival of the species. The government is not relenting efforts through the 2024 wildlife law to punish anyone found trafficking pangolin scales.
According to the 2024 wildlife law, anyone found in possession of pangolin scales, is considered to have killed and faces fines ranging from 20 to 50 million and/or prison terms of 15 to 20 years. Giant pangolins are totally protected species and are totally protected in the country.
