By IPP Media
RPC police in Katavi region are holding Emanuel Lukanda (26), a resident of Chamalendi village in Mpimbwe ward, Mlele district for allegedly in possession of three pieces of elephant tusks weighing 10 kilogrammes. Addressing journalists at his office on Saturday, Katavi Regional Police Commander Benjamin Kuzaga said the suspect was arrested on Friday, August 2, 2019 at midnight.
The RPC said that Lukanda was arrested following the ongoing police patrols conducted in collaboration with game rangers. He said the patrols are conducted regularly to nab various people involved in poaching and other crimes in the region.
Commander Kuzaga said that police were tipped off by people residing near the suspect, that Lukanda works with poachers and had been hiding the elephant tusks inside his house. He said the tusks are obtained through the killing of elephants in the Katavi National Park.
“We managed to arrest the suspect while on his way to sell the tusks. The elephant tusks were hidden in a sachet bag”, said the RPC. He said that police are still holding the suspect for interrogation as they want to know the network of poachers in the region as well as the types of weapons that poachers use to kill the animals.
https://www.ippmedia.com/en/business/man-katavi-arrested-ivory%C2%A0possession-rpc
