Two suspected wildlife traffickers arrested in SW

Two men have been arrested with South West elephant tusk and old bones of protected primates by Gendarmerie officers of the Region.

This incident occurred in Tombel in the Kupe Muanengumba Division of the South West Region.

The two suspects were picked up in the course of discussions with a customer who had placed an order for dry primate bones apparently for massaging her children. The woman is still on the run.

According to the commander of the Tombel Gendarmerie post, chief warrant officer, Ngouloure Oumarou, these suspects were caught with a gorilla skull and bones, chimpanzee bones and an elephant tail.

A total of, nine pieces of bones of protected animal species were found in the possession of the suspects. They were arrested in a local hotel where the ordered items were to be handed to the supposed buyer.

The gendarmerie gave their names as Divine who works as security guard and Akume Kingsley.

Akume claimed that he wasn’t a hunter and that he rather went gathering requested items from several people after receiving the special order.

According to the chief warrant officer, Ngouloure Oumarou, the seized elephant skull reveals that the butchered elephant was above 50 years while other bones were from animals between 30 and 40 years old.

The two suspects are presently under detention in Kumba, Meme Division as further investigations are pending.