Court to Try Gendarmerie Colonel Over Ivory Trafficking

Ivory found in a Colonel’s car.

The Djoum state counsel handling the matter against two arrested for trafficking in 216 ivory tusks has requested the court to summon a gendarmerie colonel during the next court hearing scheduled for March 6, 2017.

The case which is to be heard for the third time was brought to court by wildlife officials who arrested two people in the town following the seizure of 216 ivory tusks and 81 elephant tails from his car on December 11, 2017.The two were charged with illegal possession and commercialization of parts of protected wildlife species. The colonel whose car contained the ivory was ferried to Yaounde with the ivory tusks that was handed over to the Ministry of Forestry and wildlife.

            Following the arrest of the two that included the driver and a suspected ivory trafficker who were transporting the contraband, wildlife officials immediately set to ensure the judicial process of prosecuting the traffickers was followed according the law governing the sector considering the links to a high level gendarmerie official. Wildlife law enforcement body support LAGA is providing technical assistance to officials handling the case.

            Some reports indicate the colonel has a big case to answer in the matter and conservationists are deeply concerned with the presence of a military vehicle in yet another wildlife trafficking case.  In 2014, at a control post in Nsimalen 185 ivory tusks were seized from another military vehicle.  There is growing concern on this state of affairs as the military looks intimidating for wildlife officials to prosecute in cases which nevertheless fall within their jurisdiction.

            According to Ofir Drori, the Founder and Director of the EAGLE Network, a network that groups wildlife law enforcement organisations in several countries,  speaking from his Nairobi residence shortly after the arrest last December declared: “wildlife officials  did a very commendable job considering the involvement of the military” while further insisting that “the judicial process in prosecuting all those involved should be strictly followed”.

            According to the 1994 wildlife law, anyone found in possession of whole or part of a protected wildlife species is considered to have killed or captured the animal and is liable to a prison term of up to 3 years and or a fine of up to 10 million francs. The law further stipulates that the punishment is doubled when the offence is committed by a law enforcement officer. The law was intended to deter any temptations but many hold that for this to effective, it must be properly applied.