2023-06-01 12:53:48
Fougamou: two alleged ivory traffickers arrested and one in the village of Imenou
June 1, 2023
The operation to combat ivory trafficking in Gabon has just recorded the arrest of three new alleged traffickers in Fougamou.
This joint operation led by Judicial Police (PJ) officers from the Ngounié branch, in collaboration with the Water and Forests administration as well as the Lambaréné judicial police branch, supported by the NGO Conservation Justice , recently led to the arrest of three individuals suspected of ivory trafficking in the small town of Fougamou, located in the province of Ngounié.
Indeed, the investigations of the joint team to fight against ivory trafficking in Fougamou led to the arrest of three alleged traffickers and the seizure of 12 tusks of ivory, on May 27 and 29.
Indeed, the investigations of the joint team to fight against ivory trafficking in Fougamou led to the arrest of three alleged traffickers and the seizure of 12 tusks of ivory, on May 27 and 29.
The operation took place in three phases. First, a Burkinabé national was apprehended on May 27 in an illegal transaction with 12 ivory tusks. He said he acted as an intermediary on behalf of a Gabonese. A few hours later, this Gabonese was arrested at the large Fougamou market.
Eventually, the chain of intermediaries was extended when the last alleged trafficker arrested declared that he was not the real owner of the ivory tusks, but that he was acting on behalf of another Gabonese implicated in the ivory trade. On May 29, this third person was identified and arrested in the village of Imenou, located 40 km from the town of Lambaréné. He admitted having given the ivory tips to the first Gabonese arrested in Fougamou.
The three alleged traffickers are currently in custody at the Mouila branch police station pending their transfer to Libreville.
They will be prosecuted for detention, attempted marketing, complicity in detention and complicity in attempted marketing of ivory tusks. According to articles 390 and 392 of the new penal code, they incur a prison sentence of 10 years and a fine equivalent to five times the market value of the ivory tusks found in their possession.
For more than ten years, Conservation Justice has worked with the Gabonese authorities in the fight against ivory trafficking, which has already led to the arrest of more than 500 wildlife traffickers. Human-wildlife conflict, in addition to organized gang trafficking, poses a growing threat to already endangered forest elephants.
To counter these problems, several solutions have been developed, including law enforcement to deter wrongdoers, the use of electric fences to limit elephant intrusions.
The President of the Republic has also set up a compensation fund of approximately 4 billion francs to support 13,000 victims impacted by the presence of elephants, demonstrating Gabon’s commitment to reconciling environmental protection, development and security. populations.
LA REDACTION
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