An army warrant officer has been taken into custody on charges of wildlife trafficking. The military man and two other persons, including a former army sergeant who was fired in 2007, were detained on November 13 for unlawfully possessing three elephant tusks in Yaounde.
The Center Regional Division of Judicial Police and wildlife officers from the Center Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife collaborated on the arrest during a crackdown operation.
In the Ekonou neighborhood, three of the alleged traffickers were discovered trying to sell ivory while in possession of three and a half elephant tusks hidden in a military knapsack. LAGA, a wildlife enforcement organization, provided the technical support for the operation.
The alleged traffickers are part of a suspected ivory trafficking gang that has been engaging in wildlife crime and other illicit acts while utilizing their military status. The team making the arrest was able to subdue one of the military officers after they fiercely resisted capture. After being quickly transported to judicial police to begin the legal proceedings, the three were subsequently taken to the military tribunal’s legal department, where more investigations are still being conducted.
Each of the traffickers contributed to the illegal elephant tusk trade. While the others served as salespeople and middlemen, one gathered and preserved the elephant tusk.
This arrest demonstrates how public officials—such as government instructors, engineers, and military officers—are becoming more involved in wildlife crimes in the nation, particularly the trafficking of elephant tusks.
A government secondary school teacher, a government engineer, and two other people were taken into custody at Ebolowa on July 23rd in possession of four elephant tusks. After three alleged elephant tusk smugglers were apprehended in Yaounde, a retired Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife colonel was also detained.
The elephant is the largest land mammal in the world and serves as a forest gardener, preserving the savanna and forest ecosystems for other species. Because of the government’s increased efforts to combat the illegal ivory trade under the 2024 wildlife law, elephants are completely protected in the nation.