Staff Reporter
FOUR newly registered wildlife crime cases have been made between 11 and 12 October and five Namibian men were arrested in relation to these cases.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism’s weekly wildlife crime statistics. These statistics indicate that two elephant tusks, two live pangolins and four full duiker carcasses were confiscated after the arrest of the suspects, which took place in the Oshana, Kavango East and Omaheke regions.
Two of the five suspects were arrested for two separate cases on 11 October and charged with the illegal possession and dealing of controlled wildlife products, contravening Section 4 (1) (a) and (b) of the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Act 9 of 2008.
These suspects include a 43-year-old man who was arrested in Rundu after he was found in possession of two full elephant tusks. The other suspect, aged 44, was arrested in Oshakati for the possession of a live pangolin.
Three more suspects, involved in two separate cases, were arrested the following day, 12 October. One of these suspects is a 29-year-old man who was also found in possession of a live pangolin. The suspect was arrested in Rundu and also charged with the illegal possession and dealing of controlled wildlife products.
The other two suspects include a 53-year-old man and a 32-year-old man who were both found in possession of four full duiker carcasses. The two were arrested in Otjinene after they were unable to provide a satisfactory account for the possession of the animal carcasses, contravening section 51 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance Act 4 of 1975.
