Prison for Pangolin Scale Traffickers in Tibati

Sentenced for pangolin scale trafficking

Two wildlife traffickers have been sentenced to 3 months imprisonment terms each by the Titbati Court of First Instance. The two, Ndjoheu Jean Marie and  NwanaDoh Felix were arrested in Ngaoundal on the 30th of August 2016 with over 100 kg of giant pangolin scales they attempted to sell. They were ordered to pay fines and damages of over 8 million CFA Francs.

                The operation and legal follow-up fall with the framework of the effective wildlife law enforcement initiative launched in 2003 by  the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife to track and prosecute wildlife law offenders.

                Many had been anxiously waiting for the outcome of the verdict as one of the traffickers enjoyed huge popularity in the town of Tibati. NwanaDoh Felix who is popularly known by his nickname Eto’o was well known to the many including  law enforcement officials, the judiciary and administrative authorities  and it was feared that he could get off the hook because of his numerous connections. The judge handling  the matter saw it otherwise and decided to slam a prison sentence to the popular Eto’o.

                He therefore  seized the occasion to pass a strong message against wildlife traffickers in a zone that is well known for trafficking activities. The town is close to the  MbamDjerem National Park that was classified in 2000 to protect the several wildlife species and their habitat. Tibati serves as the traffickking base which is not far from the park and wildlife trafficking activities extend to far off commercial centres of Yaounde and Bertoua.

                The operation that led to the arrest was carried out with the technical assistance of an international NGO called LAGA and the arresting team comprised elements from the gendarmerie territorial brigade in Ngaoundal. When information on the arrest  was received by the DO for Ngaoundal, he immediately went to the gendarmerie territorial brigade where he held a brief  discussion with the Chief of Brigade and promised support from his office to the legal proceedings against the traffickers..

                Sources close to the case say the main trafficker had transported the scales from Tibati were he resides to Ngaoundal where he planned to do business and shortly before his arrest, he  hired a car that transported the scales and stopped in front of a bar where the driver and his assistant off loaded the scales that were stocked in used rice bags. They would be arrested before they completed the deal.

                Pangolin scales are fast becoming a commodity of choice for wildlife traffickers who have the necessary organizational skills and logistics to handle because they are bulky. Online reports say over 4 tons of pangolin scales shipped from Cameroon were seized in Hong Kong this year.  The rising scale of the trade is obliging some conservationists to call for a destruction of scales stocks pilled from seizures. This is the case with ivory stocks that have been destroyed by several nations, weary of the plummeting population of elephant that are killed for ivory.