Suspected wildlife traffickers, including two computer engineers, and another suspect have been arrested for the illegal possession of 2 elephant tusks in Yaounde.
The alleged traffickers were arrested during a crackdown operation by wildlife officials of the Center Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife in collaboration with the Center Regional Division of Judicial Police on August 21.
The suspects were found in possession of two elephant tusks in the boot of a Toyota Avensis car and were about to sell the elephant part at TKC, a neighborhood in Yaounde. The elephant tusks weigh about 30 kg and bore marks indicating they had previously been seized and classified by wildlife officials.
Remanded in custody following the interrogation of the three traffickers, the fourth suspect is a retired Colonel of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife and has held several positions, including management of national parks. LAGA, a wildlife law enforcement support body, technically assisted during the operation.
The suspects are presently remanded in custody at the police station while legal procedures continue.
The trade-in elephant tusks is gradually rising again in the country following tight border security during COVID-19, hampering some illegal activities. In less than one month, seven traffickers have been arrested for the illegal possession of elephant tusks. Two forestry engineers, a secondary school teacher, and one other suspect were arrested in July with four elephant tusks in the South.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an estimated 6.830 elephants live in Cameroon, making it one of the largest elephant populations left in Africa, as stated by elephant conservation groups. The elephant population in Africa faces survival challenges due to the trafficking of elephant tusks to Asia, where demand is high. The African Forest Elephant is listed as critically endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Elephants are totally protected and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) for which Cameroon is a signatory since 1989 effectively banned the international trade in elephant tusks. Despite the ban on the trade of ivory, elephants are still being killed. The government through its new law on wildlife has provided more severe punishment to clamp down on the illegal trade.
The four suspects, according to the 2024 wildlife law, may face an imprisonment term of up to 20 years and/or pay a fine of FCFA 50 million if found guilty.