Trafficker at the gendarmerie legion in Bertoua following arrest with ivory |
A wildlife trafficker has been arrested for unlawful
possession of ivory tusks and hippo teeth in Bertoua, in the East Region. The
arrest was carried out by wildlife officials of the East Regional Delegation of
Forestry and Wildlife following an investigation into an ivory trafficking
ring in the North and East Regions. The
man was arrested as he attempted to transport the illegal products to an
unknown destination. The operation was carried out in collaboration with the
gendarmerie and with technical assistance from LAGA, a wildlife law enforcement
organization.
The
40-year old was found at the Mandjou neighbourhood in Bertoua with a bag he was
carrying that contained the ivory tusks and hippo teeth. He was immediately
taken to the gendarmerie legion where the bag that had been securely fastened
was emptied of its contents. A total of seven ivory tusks and hippo teeth
rolled out of the bag. According to preliminary investigations, he had bought the
ivory tusks from another trafficker in Ngong a locality some 45 km from Garoua
and travelled to Bertoua with the products.
He was
just about to move to sell the booty when he was stopped by gendarmes. Captain
Alim of the gendarmerie legion in Bertoua declared shortly after the operation
that “according to his [the suspect] declarations, he let us to understand that
a certain Daouda gave him the trophies to sell in the East Region”. The
operation uncovers a trafficking ring that exists between the towns of Bertoua
and Garoua.
Shortly before his arrest, he had suspiciously inspected the area
before taking hold of his bag, a clear indication he knew what he was carrying
to be illegal. Gendarmes and wildlife officials who were part of the arresting
team demonstrated patience and skills to be as he tried to cautiously move the
ivory from the notorious neighbourhood.
Sources
say this is not the first time the trafficking ring has been dealing in ivory
and other wildlife products that include leopard and lion skins. The suspect
equally doubles as a goat trader at the Ngong market and he claims to be a
“marabout” or soothsayer. The movement of the ivory from the North to Bertoua
is very unusual as ivory is generally trafficked from the East Region to the
North where it is smuggled to Nigeria.
Prior investigations had established that the ivory was concealed in a truck
transporting cattle from Garoua to Bertoua.
The
operation was carried out within the framework of the successful government
wildlife law enforcement model that was launched some 15 years ago. The model
that has resulted in hundreds of arrest, is being replicated in several other
African countries under the network name EAGLE. An operation carried out last
week in Gabon where the model was started over 10 years ago resulted in the
arrest of a logging company staff with two ivory tusks while LAGA is presently
assisting wildlife officials in Djoum following the seizure of over 106 ivory
tusks and the arrest of two for illegal possession of parts of protected
species. Ivory is one of the most trafficked products in the sub region and
this is having devastating impact on the elephant population that is facing
serious extinction threats.
According
to the 1994 wildlife law, anyone found in possession of part of a protected
wildlife species is considered to have killed 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
government of Cameroon has been working hard to dismantle the illegal trade in
ivory that has other ramifications including security threats. Poachers and
traffickers have the ability to generate big money from ivory trafficking and
have the resources to undermine security and law enforcement in these
countries.
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