Maria David
AN ongoing intelligence operation reveals Botswana as the latest elephant killing fields, with the confiscated tusks in two separate incidents in the past 48 hours pointing to at least 20 elephants killed for ivory in Botswana destined for international smugglers in Zambia via Namibia.
The latest two suspects have been arrested after they were found in possession of 15 elephant tusks at Namandumo village, Malengalenga area in the Zambezi region, bringing the total amount of tusks in two operations to 39. As it is not uncommon for elephants to have broken tusks, it could easily have been more than 20 elephants mowed down for their tusks in Botswana.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT), Romeo Muyunda, seven suspects were en route from Botswana after a poaching expedition when they were intercepted. Five suspects managed to escape, and two are in custody.
This is the second-largest elephant poaching reported in the last 36 hours, after a Zambian national was apprehended with 24 elephant tusks in the same area, and seven more suspects are reported to have been on the run.
Muyunda said that the seven suspects are still being pursued. However, they are believed to have crossed back into Zambia. Muyunda once again commended the work of their anti-poaching unit in the Zambezi, comprising Namibian Police and MEFT officials, for the job well done.
He stressed that this team has built a strong intelligence base that is leading to these arrests, and this is the trend they want to follow in their fight against wildlife crime to deter those involved.
Muyunda added that this should serve as a warning to all those involved in similar illegal activities that they will be caught and face the full wrath of Namibian law.
