2023-07-06 10:22:19
Estuary / Kango: An intermediary in the illegal ivory trade arrested
July 6, 2023
A new operation by a mixed team to fight against wildlife crime has just led to the arrest of an individual involved in the illicit ivory trade, in Kango in the Estuary province.
Indeed, since July 2, agents from the cantonment of Water and Forests, the Directorate for the Fight against Poaching and those from the center brigade of the Kango gendarmerie, supported by Conservation Justice, have intensified anti-poaching patrols. poaching to tackle ivory trafficking.
During this mission, the mixed team succeeded in apprehending a Burkinabe national about to finalize an illicit ivory sale transaction. He was arrested in possession of four ivory tusks.
According to the first information gathered from a source close to the case, the Burkinabe national reportedly declared that he is not the owner of the ivories and that he held them as an intermediary on behalf of a Gabonese based in a nearby town.
Faced with this affair, the competent authorities reacted promptly by strengthening the investigation mechanisms and by working closely with local actors to dismantle this network of traffickers. Investigations are ongoing, and the extent of this illegal network could expand as more revelations come to light.
Pending the conclusion of the investigations, the Burkinabe national was prosecuted for possession and attempted marketing of ivory tusks, serious offenses which expose him to heavy criminal penalties. According to article 390 of the new penal code in force, he risks a prison sentence of 10 years, as well as a fine which could reach five times the market value of the ivory tusks found in his possession.
The reduction in ivory trafficking in Gabon in 2022, as reported by the NGO Conservation Justice, is an encouraging development. However, it is worrying that the ivory trade persists in several towns across the country. This situation can be explained by the international demand for ivory which still exists, mainly for Asia.
Gabon is actively pursuing the implementation of effective measures aimed at enforcing the regulations and deterring potential traffickers. As a result, the conviction rate in Gabon is remarkably high, exceeding 90%, which distinguishes it from other Central African countries where this rate is around 50% or even 70%.
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