This archive of published media articles about wildlife crime in Namibia aims to:
Public access to information is a vital component of ensuring community engagement in prevalent issues. Wildlife crime is one of the pressing environmental issues of our time.
Wildlife crime investigations are generally covert operations requiring utmost confidentiality to succeed. Investigations and prosecutions in complex cases may take months or even years to complete. For this reason, the information that can be released to the public without compromising cases is often limited. Nonetheless, the Namibian government strives to share as much information as possible with the public.
The Namibian media has welcomed this approach and regularly publishes statistics and feature articles on wildlife crime. These are entered into the database at regular intervals, creating a comprehensive archive of wildlife crime reporting in Namibia.
Explore your search results using the filter checkboxes, or amend your search or start a new search.
Over 30 rhinos were reportedly poached in a period of six months alone in the Etosha National Park. The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) Oshikoto Regional Commander, Commissioner Teopolina Kalompo-Nashikaku revealed this on Wednesday at a briefing with Oshana Governor Elia Irimari, constituency councillors and traditional authority councillors, on the fight against wildlife crimes in and around Etosha.
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NAM_2024_083_Thirty rhino poached in six months_NAMPA.pdf | 375.33 KB |
After a four-month operation, the owner of a traditional medicine store in Cape Town has been arrested after police confiscated various illegal fauna and flora. The store owner is expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court soon. The Western Cape police spokesperson, Captain Frederick van Wyk said in order to address the illegal and ongoing stripping of bark from protected tree species in Table Mountain National Park, Environmental Crime Investigation (ECI) Cape Town identified a shop in Cape Town which purchased bark and other items from illegal suppliers for muti…
A man has been arrested for contravening Act 04/1975, Section 30, related to the hunting of huntable game at Farm Hamis in the Khomas region. According to the police weekend report, it is alleged that two suspects entered Farm Hamis and shot a kudu bull without permission. The farm workers heard the gunshot and responded by alerting the Namibian police, who acted promptly and arrested one of the suspected poachers. The second suspect fled the scene with the hunting rifle and has not yet been apprehended. The kudu carcass was recovered and valued at N$6,000.
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NAM_202_11_One Arrested for Illegal Hunting_Informante.pdf | 56.64 KB |
Another case of dealing in controlled wildlife products has been reported in Kavango West, involving a 29-year-old man who was found with two pangolin skins on Tuesday. This comes after two men, aged 36 and 44, were arrested for being in possession of a live pangolin in Kakoro village recently. NamPol spokesperson Inspector Raimbert Muronga said that the 29-year-old suspect was arrested around 13:00 in Nkurenkuru town.
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NAM_2023_11_Another arrest for pangolin trading in Kavango West_Informante.pdf | 94.32 KB |
Two men, aged 36 and 44, were arrested after being found in possession of a live pangolin in Kakoro village, Kavango West. NamPol Head of Media, Chief Inspector Elifas Kuwinga, reported that the arrests occurred on Sunday around 16:00. Both suspects are Namibian nationals. "They were apprehended after being discovered in possession of a live pangolin valued at N$50 000 during a police operation," he said. Kuwinga said that the duo is facing charges related to dealing with and possessing controlled wildlife products.
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NAM_2023_11_Two caught with live pangolin_Informante.pdf | 100.62 KB |
A 62-year-old pensioner man was arrested for shooting a Duiker and monitor lizard worth N$23 400. The incident occurred at farm 39 in Mangetti Cattle Range, Kavango West.
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NAM_2023_09_Pensioner caught for killing protected game_Informante.pdf | 58.77 KB |
Two men aged 26 and 34 were arrested after being found in possession of one leopard skin at Hochfeld T-Junction.
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NAM_2023_08_Two caught with leopard skin in Otjozondjupa_Informante.pdf | 58.78 KB |
A case of hunting of specially protected game without a permit is being investigated by the police in Otjozondjupa after a carcass of a female black Rhinoceros was found at a water hole.
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NAM_2023_08_Police search for rhino poaching suspects_Informante.pdf | 111.05 KB |
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) is concerned about the increasing use of snares to illegally hunt and kill wild animals in Etosha National Park. This comes after wire snares were discovered and retrieved in Etosha National Park.
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NAM_2023_08_62 wire snares retrieved at Etosha_Informante.pdf | 454.29 KB |
The police in Otjozondjupa arrested 5 men aged 41, 31, 29, and 33 for illegal hunting of protected animals on Friday. The suspects were allegedly caught on Friday around 00h00 on D2172 road in Ovitoto, Okahandja District. They face charges of illegal hunting of game and being found in possession of huntable game. According to the police weekend report issued on Sunday, the suspects were arrested after being found with half anOryx game meat at a mini road block and failed to account or produce any permit.
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NAM_2023_07_Five caught for illegal hunting_Informante.pdf | 56.86 KB |
The police in the Otjozondjupa region arrested two men aged 27 and 31 for allegedly attempting to poach a Rhino at a lodge outside Otjiwarongo. The two face charges of illegal hunting of protected game and trespassing.
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NAM_2023_07_Two Rhino poachers caught_three on the run_Informante.pdf | 147.48 KB |
James Uerikua, the Governor of Otjozondjupa Region, expressed concern over the high number of stock theft cases and illegal hunting of game in the region. Uerikua made these remarks during his recent State of the Region Address (SORA).
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NAM_2023_07_Small stock and illegal hunting concerns Uerikua_Informante.pdf | 340.24 KB |
Josephina Johannes was granted bail on Monday after appearing in the Tsumeb Magistrates Court. Johannes is accused of being in possession of protected game bird meat without a permit. According to Oshikoto Community Affairs Officer Inspector Ellen Nehale, the accused was granted bail of N$5,000, and the case was postponed to August 17, 2023, pending further investigation.
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NAM_2023_05_Woman granted bail for possession of wild bird carcasses_Informante.pdf | 213.33 KB |
Three poachers who were ambushed on the western edge of Etosha National Park on Wednesday have evaded capture by the Namibian police stationed there. According to Naftal Lungameni Sakaria, the Police Gold Commander at Etosha, the criminals managed to escape before they could be apprehended. However, Sakaria said that the poachers left behind their identification cards and equipment.
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NAM_2023_05_Three individuals wanted for poaching activities in Etosha_Informante.pdf | 123.06 KB |
Cape Town - A 34-year-old man, who escaped from the Makhanda Correctional Facility in October 2022, appeared in court on new charges. "The suspect was found in possession of hunting implements, and was detained for contravening the National Environmental Management and Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 Sec 57 (attempted hunting of a threatened or protected species without a permit).
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SA_2023_04_Prison escapee rearrested at private game reserve is back in court_IOL.pdf | 142 KB |
Commissioner Naftal Lungameni Sakaria, the Oshana Regional Police Commander, was recently named the Gold Commander for the Etosha National Park Anti-poaching Safety and Security squad. Sakaria was named on March 23 and will, for the next six months, be in charge of directing the joint Nampol/NDF operational work in the Etosha National Park. He said that he will concurrently be in charge of the Oshana Region and also the anti-poaching operations in Etosha. "I have already been to Etosha, rotated the personnel and properly briefed them," he said.
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NAM_2023_03_No more poaching in Etosha_says Sakaria_Informante.pdf | 129.96 KB |
Two people were detained Wednesday after they were found in possession of a skin of a pangolin which is a protected species. The two were apprehended at a temporary roadblock on the Omuthiya-Ondangwa main road. They are both from Windhoek. According to the regional commander of the police in Oshikoto, Commissioner Teopolina Kalompo-Nashikaku, the skin is valued N$50 000.
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NAM_2023_03_Two arrested for alleged possession of a pangolin skin_Informante.pdf | 56.35 KB |
Two suspects are expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges of illegal possession of abalone, reckless and negligent driving and assault on a police official.
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SA_2023_02_Suspects transporting abalone worth R200 000 from Mthatha to Bloemfontein nabbed_IOL.pdf | 219.02 KB |
A Lesotho national is expected to appear in the Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court in the North West on Monday for possession of endangered species. During the operation, a search was conducted in a house at Tlakgameng, leading to the discovery of two pangolins, two dead rock pythons and two dead monkeys.
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SA_2023_02_Police arrest man for possession of endangered species including pangolins_IOL.pdf | 229.94 KB |
THE Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) has recorded 63 rhinos poached since the start of the year, of which 41 are black rhinos and 22 are white rhinos. Spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said this year’s poaching cases include 15 rhinos poached on custodianship farms, another 22 on private farms, and 26 in the Etosha National Park. In previous years, 44 rhinos were recorded poached in 2021, 42 in 2020, 57 in 2019, 83 in 2018, and 55 in 2017.
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NAM_2022_11_More rhinos poached than elephants_Informante.pdf | 62.56 KB |
Cape Town - A 50-year-old Ghanaian national was sentenced in the Kroonstad Regional Court in the Free State after he pleaded guilty for being in possession of abalone.
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SA_2022_11_Ghanaian national sentenced for possession of over R3m abalone_IOL.pdf | 239.38 KB |
Two men were on Saturday arrested after being found in possession of protected plant species at Okahandja.
The duo, a Namibian and Chinese national were found with four Adenia pechuelii (elephant foot) plants; 15xCyphostema plants; eight Commphoras plants; five plastics containing Welwitschia seeds and 12x plastics with differentunidentified seeds. Ministry of Environment spokesperson Romeo Muyunda stated that this came after Ministry officials followed up on avideo in which the two suspects were seen collecting protected plants reportedly in the area of Usakos.
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NAM_2022_07_Two arrested for protected plants species_Informante.pdf | 59.46 KB |
The huge police operation launched after the discovery of two poached rhinos on the north-western side of the Etosha National Park has led to the gruesome find of another nine rhinos killed. All the animals are critically endangered black rhinos. According to Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, this brings the total number of rhinos poached in six months to 22.
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NAM_2022_06_11 rhinos poached in Etosha totalling 22 in six months_Informante.pdf | 197.56 KB |
Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda stated about 4 000 timber pieces and a timber cutting machine have been confiscated, but the value of the timber has not been determined. This is the second largest illegal timber activity reported within a month.
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NAM_2022_05_Two arrested_planks and timber cutting machine confiscated_Informante.pdf | 152.04 KB |
A TRUCK containing unprocessed timber intended for exportation to South Africa was seized by Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism officials in Windhoek. Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the 1 500 planks on the truck are held and the transport permit is temporarily suspended, pending further investigations to establish where the timber came from and if it was legally acquired. Muyunda stated that in 2018 the Ministry introduced a moratorium on timber harvesting, transportation, marketing and exporting. "This has led to a…
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NAM_2022_04_Truck with unprocessed timber seized_Informante.pdf | 117.7 KB |
Two Angolans and three Namibians, of which one is a traditional doctor, were remanded in custody after being arrested for possession of 29 pieces of elephant tusks at Onhuno, Helao Nafidi Town.
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NAM_2022_03_Five remain in custody for possession of ivory_Informante.pdf | 70.63 KB |
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said the illegal capture, killing and trade of pangolins for international markets has increased in recent years. Since 2017, the ministry recorded 320 pangolin poaching cases in the country. Of those, the highest number was reported in 2019 with 96 cases, followed by 62 in 2018, 60 in 2020, 59 in 2021, with the lowest reported in 2017, namely 43 cases.
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NAM_2022_02_Pangolin poaching cases reach 320 in five years_Informante.pdf | 70.48 KB |
Cape Town - Police in the Northern Cape have arrested five suspects for the possession of protected plants worth over R600 000. According to the provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock, offcers attached to the Springbok Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit, Springbok K9 unit and the Springbok Highway Patrol arrested five male suspects along the N14 highway near Springbok on Thursday.
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SA_2022_01_Five arrested for possession of protected plants worth R600 000_IOL.pdf | 174.81 KB |
Cape Town - Nine suspects are expected to appear in the Goodwood Magistrate's Court soon after they were found to be in possession of protected plants. According to the Northern Cape's provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock, police members from the Springbok and Kuilsriver Stock Theft and Endangered Species Units (STESU) successfully conducted a joint buy and bust operation.
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SA_2022_01_Nine Northern Cape suspects bust in Cape Town for possession of protected plants_IOL.pdf | 158.5 KB |
The poaching of endangered species such as rhinos and elephants in Namibia has significantly decline this year. This is according to data provided by Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism on Thursday. So for, a total of 14 rhinos and five elephants were killed by poachers this year in Namibia.
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NAM_2021_10_Rhino and elephant poaching declines_Informante.pdf | 2.36 MB |
Cape Town - Police in the Eastern Cape have arrested a 38-year-old suspect and confiscated abalone with an approximate street value of R3.7 million.
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SA_2021_07_Eastern Cape suspect busted with abalone worth over R3_7 million_IOL.pdf | 989.86 KB |
Cape Town - A 45-year-old man is expected to appear in the Goodwood magistrate's court on Wednesday after he was found in possession of abalone worth over R1.7 million in Cape Town’s northern suburb of Edgemead.
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SA_2021_06_Suspect arrested in Edgemead with over R1_7m worth of abalone to appear in court_IOL.pdf | 215.03 KB |
The Namibian Police Force in the Oshana Region have arrested a 41-year-old man after he was found in possession of protected wildlife products at Oshakati. According to an arrest report provided by the Public Relation Division of the Namibian Police, a case of possession of controlled wildlife products was registered on Friday evening. "The suspect was arrested at Okatana Service Station in Oshakati, after he was found in possession of a pangolin skin," said police.
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NAM_2021_06_Pangolin skin gets man arrested_Informante.pdf | 1.23 MB |
Namibia's over-burdened criminal justice system is struggling to keep up with rhino-poaching court cases, some of them delayed by up to six years. Is a special wildlife crime court the answer?
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NAM_2021_02_Calls for a special wildlife crime court in Namibia_Oxpeckers.pdf | 777.04 KB |
Two men, that attempted to sell seven unpolished diamonds and a pangolin skin, were arrested in Tsumeb during a sting operation earlier this week. The 30-year-old and 50-year-old suspects were apprehended during an undercover operation staged by the Protected Resources Sub Division of the Namibian Police. The Regional Police Commander, Commissioner Armas Shivute said the duo were found with one pangolin skin valued at N$ 50 000 and seven unpolished diamonds of which the value still has to be determined.
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NAM_2020-12_Two arrested with unpolished diamonds_Informante.pdf | 1.54 MB |
In all, 11 nationals, including firearm suppliers, poachers and game vendors, were arrested last week in Luengue-Luiana National Park, Cuando Cubango province.
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ANG_2020-07_Dismantled poaching net and weapon snipers_Provinces_Jornal de Angola_Online.pdf | 244.75 KB |
A man was arrested at Okandjengendi on Monday while trying to sell to undercover police officers a live pangolin.
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NAM_2020-03_Man caught with live pangolin_Informante.pdf | 1.54 MB |
The 51-year-old Tobias Nuuyoma, a senior officer in the Namibian Defence Force and the 55-year-old Samuel Mumbala, a lecturer at the Valombola Vocational Training Centre were released on bail of N$ 5 000 each after they were arrested on charges of poaching over the past weekend.
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NAM_2019-07_Senior NDF officer arrested for poaching_Informante.pdf | 930.35 KB |
There are worrying signs that Namibia's legendary wild game numbers may be plummeting.
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NAM_2019-04_Troubled times for Namibian wildlife_The Namibian.pdf | 1002.93 KB |
There are worrying signs that Namibia’s legendary wild game numbers may be plummeting. Four years ago the Namibian Professional Hunters Association raised an alarm about the lack of huntable elephant bulls in the Caprivi region, where the number of communal conservancies had grown from one in 1997 to 15 today.
How did 13 rhino bulls from the Kruger National Park end up on a hunting farm owned by a reclusive Russian billionaire in Namibia? John Grobler and Khadija Sharife follow the trail
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Oxpeckers_Christo Wieses Namibian rhino deal under scrutiny.pdf | 261.62 KB |
Xuecheng Hou, a wealthy Chinese businessman linked to wildlife contraband trafficking, has emerged as a major player in the illegal trade in rare African timber in sub-Saharan Africa. John Grobler investigates.
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Oxpeckers_Chinese mafia boss_turns to timber in Namibia.pdf | 1.73 MB |
The Namibian authorities don’t seem to be in any hurry to shut down a rhino horn smuggling syndicate that has infiltrated security at Windhoek’s airport, writes John Grobler.
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Oxpeckers_The horn scam at Windhoeks airport.pdf | 241.34 KB |
Depending on your views about legal trade in wildlife products, the past week was either a good week or a very good week for Namibian conservation, writes John Grobler.
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Oxpeckers_Namibia diaries the good_the bad_the ugly.pdf | 2.66 MB |
After a two-year investigation, John Grobler exposes the totem-based networks facilitating transnational rhino horn smuggling and defeating the criminal justice system’s pursuit of suspects.
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Oxpeckers_A mysterious dead hand driving Namibias poaching.pdf | 1.68 MB |
John Grobler visits Okahao, a sleepy settlement near Etosha National Park at the centre of the poaching plague threatening the world’s last viable population of critically endangered black rhinos.
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Oxpeckers_The epicentre of Namibias rhino poaching.pdf | 1.21 MB |
The second recent court development followed the sensational arrest of a young, up-and-coming Windhoek businessman named “Mox” Namwandi. Who is he? John Grobler tracks his connections.
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Oxpeckers_Bling king accused in Namibian rhino poaching.pdf | 250.11 KB |
Court evidence reveals the typical methdology deployed by one of five organised crime syndicates believed to be active in Namibian wildlife trafficking, reports John Grobler.
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Oxpeckers_Inner workings of a Chinese poaching syndicate.pdf | 1.68 MB |
A 10-month-long investigation by John Grobler uncovers the political and commercial agendas driving the world’s largest black rhino population towards extinction.
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Oxpeckers_Caught in the crossfire_how cattle and Chinese mining interests are killing off Namibia.pdf | 759.26 KB |
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Oxpeckers_Namibias national soccer medic linked to rhino poaching and murder.pdf | 1.28 MB |