By Ellanie Smit, The Namibian Sun
Fourteen suspects were arrested for wildlife crimes in the past two weeks and five new cases were registered. According to statistics provided by the intelligence and investigation unit in the environment ministry and the protected resource division in the safety ministry 14 wildlife products were seized.
These include two rhino horns, two elephant tusks and four pieces of tusk. Five impala carcasses were also confiscated, as well as one live pangolin, three firearms and a vehicle.
On 22 November at Werda in the Kunene Region three Namibian men were arrested for illegally hunting rhinos. Noa Tuhafeni Timoteus, Eliaser Revo Amadhila and Paulus Ashingola were allegedly found in possession of two rhino horns and two AK47s. Their vehicle was also confiscated.
They were charged for contravening the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Act and the Nature Conservation Ordinance.
At Outapi in the Omusati Region two Namibians were arrested on 24 November for contravening the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Act. Festus Katambo and Beteul Katjinda were allegedly fund in possession of a live pangolin.
In another incident on 25 November at Otjiwarongo in the Otjozondjupa Region a Namibian suspect, Chrissy Mukena Mukena, was arrested for allegedly conspiring to hunt rhinos. Mukena was also charged for contravening the Arms and Ammunition Act and for the illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm.
In a separate incident on 26 November at Omega in the Kavango East Region two Namibians were arrested for allegedly being in the possession of four pieces of elephant tusk. They are Uwanga Shikambo and Kapinga Timoteus Ndjamba.
The following day, also at Omega, two more Namibians, Matheus Shinkanda Kanyanga and Amos Muhepa, were arrested for allegedly being in the possession of two elephant tusks. All four suspects were charged with contravening the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Act.
At Ngoma in the Caprivi Region three Namibians and one Zambian were arrested on 30 November, allegedly with five impala carcasses and a hunting rifle, which was confiscated. They were charged with contravening the Nature Conservation Ordinance.
