By Leocadia Bongben
As earlier reported, two men were arrested in possession of ivory tusks in the Littoral region. A woman has been taken into custody, suspected of having links with the two men.
She was taken into custody yesterday in Douala’s Beedi neighborhood. The woman is thought to be related to two traffickers who were apprehended in February 2025 in Douala in possession of two elephant tusks. She is the daughter of a former Ministry of Tourism and Leisure divisional delegate.
She was taken into custody following a crackdown operation conducted by the Regional Division of Judicial Police and wildlife officers from the Littoral Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife in collaboration with LAGA-Last Great Ape, a wildlife law enforcement organization.
According to inside sources, one of the two men detained in February reportedly took the elephant tusks from the woman’s house. As soon as she was arrested, she was taken to the wildlife office for questioning and additional research.
According to the Cameroon 2024 wildlife law, which protects elephants, traffickers found guilty face up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to FCFA 50 million.
At least 33 elephants were slaughtered last year alone, with 67 elephant tusks found in Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, and Togo. The arrests were carried out as part of the government’s partnership with the EAGLE network, which supports wildlife officers in various nations as they implement the wildlife law.
One iconic animal is the elephant. It serves as a vital gardener for the forest, preserving the savanna and forest ecosystems for humans and other creatures.