One suspect has been arrested while seven suspects fled from the scene after officials discovered 24 elephant tusks in a car at Katima Mulilo on Friday.
The ivory was discovered during an operation by the Namibian Police, officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, and Namibian Defence Force members, who were stopping vehicles suspected to be used to smuggle wildlife products.
The operation was carried out on the back of information about a syndicate of Zambian nationals using the Zambezi region as a transit route to smuggle the tusks of poached elephants from Botswana to Zambia.
This was confirmed environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda.
During an inspection conducted by the police at Katima Mulilo on Friday, 24 elephant tusks, 12 elephant tails, five butcher’s knives, pots, inflatable mattresses and a vehicle were confiscated.
A 37-year-old man was arrested, and he is scheduled to appear in the Katima Mulilo Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Muyunda commended the officials and law enforcement for their action.
“We are invested in pursuing perpetrators of wildlife crimes. We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to protect our wildlife,” Muyunda said.
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