Officer arrested with Elephant tusks
By Mesumbe Nelly
A warrant officer of the army has been arrested for wildlife trafficking. He was arrested alongside two others including a former army sergeant, who was sacked in 2007. They were arrested in Yaounde on November 13, for illegal possession of 3 elephant tusks.
The arrest took place during a crackdown operation conducted by wildlife officials of the Center Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife in collaboration with the Center Regional Division of Judicial Police.
Three of the suspected traffickers were found in possession of three and a half elephant tusks concealed in a military knack sack, at Ekonou neighbourhood as they attempted to sell the ivory. A wildlife enforcement support body known as LAGA provided technical assistance during the operation.
The alleged traffickers belong to a suspected ivory trafficking ring that has been using their military status to carry out illegal activities including wildlife crime. One of the military officers violently resisted arrest but was eventually subdued by the arresting team. The trio were swiftly taken to Judicial Police for the commencement of the legal produces and later to the legal department of the military tribunal where further investigations are ongoing.
The traffickers each played a role in the illegal sale of the elephant tusks. One of them collected and stored the elephant tusk, the others played the role of middleman, and salesman.
This arrest highlights the increasing involvement of civil servants, including, government teachers, engineers and military officers in wildlife crimes in the country especially, elephant tusks trafficking. On July 23rd, a government secondary school teacher, an engineer working with the government and two others were arrested with 4 elephant tusks in Ebolowa. A retired Colonel of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife was also held in custody following the arrest of three suspected elephant tusks traffickers in Yaounde.
The elephant is the world’s largest land animal and play an important role as gardener of the forest helping maintain forest and savanna ecosystem for other species.
The government, through the 2024 wildlife law is intensifying efforts to clamp down on illegal ivory trade as such, elephants are totally protected in the country.
