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Namibian Wildlife Crimes article archive

This archive of published media articles about wildlife crime in Namibia aims to:

  • provide easy public access to published information and statistics
  • enable easy stakeholder access to articles
  • provide a comprehensive archive of wildlife crime reporting in Namibia

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.

Displaying results 1 - 43 of 43
Tuesday, 30 January 2024
2024. Katima Mulilo Court trials for elephant tusk possession.

Katima Mulilo - Three individuals, Nyambe Calvin Matomola, John Mwelwa, and Nziye Lusinyize, have been brought before the Katima Mulilo Magistrate's Court for alleged possession of controlled wildlife products. The trio was apprehended with a total of 39 elephant tusks, leading to their court appearance on Tuesday. Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, revealed that Matomola, along with seven Zambian nationals, was caught with 24 tusks after smuggling them into Namibia via the Zambezi Region.

Monday, 29 January 2024
Marais R 2024. Illegal perlemoen trade booming despite anti-poaching efforts.

One of Algoa Bay’s most valuable resources is being poached and plundered at an alarming rate. Nelson Mandela Bay has experienced a string of perlemoen-related incidents over the past few days, with experts in the field saying the illegal trade of this protected shellfish is now at an all-time high.

Wednesday, 20 December 2023
2023. MEFT records confiscation of 18 pangolin skins.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has recorded a total of 18 pangolin skins, 12 live pangolins and 146 pangolin scales that were confiscated between September and November this year. This is according to the ministry's spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, who in a press statement on Monday said as a result 23 criminal cases have been registered and 38 suspects arrested.

Wednesday, 20 December 2023
2023. Trafficking of protected plant species suspect to apply for bail.

A 29-year-old Tanzanian woman is set to appear in the Opuwo Magistrate's court on Thursday for a bail application, in connection with the alleged trafficking of protected plant species. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) spokesperson Romeo Muyunda in a media statement on Monday said Diana Mashiku was arrested alongside Namibians, Veisiruaije Tjavara (25), Jennifer Simataa (37) and Tjivinda Unatavi (31) for being in possession of 46 Adenia pechuelii plants, which they allegedly harvested from the wild without a permit.

Saturday, 9 December 2023
2023. Man found with rifle in Kruger National Park gets six-year jail term.

The Skukuza regional court on Friday sentenced a Mozambican national Joshua Mongwe to six years' imprisonment for poaching-related offences. The accused, 29, pleaded guilty to the offence and was subsequently convicted of trespassing in the Kruger National Park, contravention of Immigration Act, possession of ammunition.

Thursday, 16 November 2023
Nel B 2023. Man, 28, found with perlemoen worth R3m.

Gqeberha police arrested a 28-year-old man on Wednesday after allegedly discovering perlemoen with an estimated street value of R3m in the bakkie he was driving.

Wednesday, 30 August 2023
2023. Elephant tusk, meat carcasses, guns and blue lights seized in Alex bust.

Gauteng police have seized meat carcasses hijacked from a delivery truck, guns and ammunition, blue lights and signal jammers at a property in Alexandra, Johannesburg. An elephant tusk was also found at the 7th Avenue premises during Tuesday's operation, said police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi.

Sunday, 27 August 2023
2023. Perlemoen suspect arrested after 'evading arrest' for two years.

The Gqeberha-based economic protected resources team under the serious organised crime Investigation unit of the Hawks arrested a 43-year-old man on Friday for possession of perlemoen. The suspect joins his 10 co-accused, previously arrested in Algoa Park in May for allegedly being in possession of perlemoen, as well as running a yshing operation without a permit.

Monday, 21 August 2023
2023. Two arrested for possession of protected game meat in Otjozondjupa Region.

Two men were on Saturday arrested at Farm Kenilworth in the Otjozondjupa Region, after being found in possession of protected game meat valued at N.dollars 22 000.

Tuesday, 16 May 2023
Mametela T 2023. Ten in court for possession of perlemoen.

Ten suspects arrested for allegedly running an illegal perlemoen operation appeared in the Gqeberha magistrate’s court on Monday. Acting on a tip-off, the Hawks' Economic Protected Resources team in Gqeberha followed up on information about perlemoen activities at a residential premises in Algoa Park. Surveillance was conducted and law enforcement was granted a warrant to execute a search on Thursday last week, leading to the discovery of an alleged illegal operation.

Wednesday, 10 May 2023
2023. Tanzanian among 2 arrested with 81 kilos of elephant tusks in Makueni.

The tusks had a street value of more than Sh8 million, officials said In Summary: Despite a ban on the international trade in ivory, African elephants are still being poached in large numbers; As part of efforts to stop the crime, Kenya has started using high-tech surveillance equipment including drones to track poaching gangs. Two men including a Tanzanian national were arrested while transporting 81.7 kilograms of elephant tusks in Mukaa area, Makueni County.

Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Rogers G 2023. Wilderness Foundation offers reward to stop Eastern Cape rhino poaching.

The Wilderness Foundation has offered a reward in an effort to put the brakes on the recent spate of rhino poaching in the Eastern Cape.

Tuesday, 7 February 2023
2023. Elephant tusk dealing suspects to appear in court at Okahandja.

The four men who were arrested at Okahandja on Sunday and Monday for alleged possession of an elephant tusk, are set to appear in the magistrate’s court at the town this week. Namibian Police Force spokesperson in the Otjozondjupa Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha in an interview with Nampa on Tuesday said three male suspects aged 23, 28, and 29 were arrested Sunday morning at a restaurant in Okahandja, where they allegedly intended to sell the elephant tusk to a local buyer.

Saturday, 4 February 2023
Rogers G 2023. Schotia rhinos Bonnie and Clyde killed by poachers and dehorned.

Two rhinos that survived a poaching attack at Schotia Safaris Private Game Reserve, near Nanaga, nearly 10 years ago were killed by poachers on Thursday. After disabling the pair of male and female white rhinos in the attack, the poachers hacked off their horns with pangas before making their escape.

Friday, 27 January 2023
Mabuza E 2023. Third time unlucky for poacher as he is sentenced to 32 years in jail.

The Skukuza regional court on Thursday convicted and sentenced a man who had been arrested in the Kruger National Park on three separate occasions to an effective 32 years' imprisonment for poaching-related offences. Forster Lubisi, 43, was convicted of three counts of trespassing, two counts of possession of a prohibited firearm with a serial number obliterated, possession of ammunition, possession of a dangerous weapon, killing of a rhino and possession of an unlicensed firearm. He pleaded guilty to the crimes.

Monday, 23 January 2023
2023. Chinese rhino horn smuggler escapes from Namibian prison.

A man died in a shootout with officers from the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) Wildlife Protection Unit after allegedly being caught in a rhino poaching incident at farm Okarakua in the Windhoek district on Saturday. A crime report issued yesterday by NamPol said the deceased, whose age is unknown, was one of three suspects who were allegedly attempting to kill a rhino cow and its calf around 17h40. Another suspect aged 27 was apprehended and seriously injured in the process, while the third suspect fled the scene. He was however arrested yesterday, it said.

Thursday, 19 January 2023
2023. Two reportedly arrested with python skin at Mutengo village.

Two men were arrested at Mutengo village in the Kavango West Region on Wednesday after they were reportedly found in possession of a python skin valued at N.dollars 30 000.

Thursday, 1 December 2022
2022. Police officer accused of theft of rhino horn out on bail.

A member of the Namibian Police Force's (NamPol) Protected Resources Unit (PRU) in the Otjozondjupa Region, who is accused of the alleged theft of a rhino horn placed under his care, secured bail on Thursday. Magistrate Peingondjabi Shipo granted the 45-year-old Sergeant Salatiel Simon bail of N.dollars 10 000, on condition that the accused does not leave the district of Otjiwarongo without informing police officers involved in the investigations of his case.

Monday, 21 November 2022
2022. Men nabbed with stolen firearms and ivory.

Two men were arrested for the possession of stolen firearms, ivory and other property on Friday in Cape St Francis.

Wednesday, 16 November 2022
2022. Mozambicans jailed for 30 years for rhino hunting.

Rhino poaching is driven by the demand for rhino horn in Asian countries. In Summary: They were arrested in September last year with a firearm and ammunition at a game farm with the aim of slaughtering rhinos to extract their horns for commercial purposes. This is the second time that a hunter of a protected species has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Thursday, 20 October 2022
2022. Missing rhino horn at Otjiwarongo allegedly recovered in Angola.

The rhino horn that reportedly went missing while in the care of a 45-year-old police officer at Otjiwarongo between 30 September and 03 October this year, has been recovered in Angola.

Saturday, 8 October 2022
Rogers G 2022. Rhino poaching conspiracy ruling boosts conservation efforts.

Rhino conservation has received a major boost with the recent Gqeberha sentencing of a gang convicted of conspiring to poach rhino. The September 22 sentencing of the Chitlongo Three in the Gqeberha Regional Court, the first achieved under National Environmental Management Act "conspiracy to poach" legislation, gives SA lawmakers a lethal new weapon to pursue suspects who have often escaped prosecution in the past because of a lack of evidence.

Thursday, 1 September 2022
Nhongo K 2022. Rhinoceros poaching surges in Namibia.

Namibia is experiencing a surge in poaching, with the number of poached rhinoceros rising to 48 this year, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said Wednesday. In a statement, Muyunda said of the poached rhinoceros, 32 were black rhinoceros and 16 were white rhinoceros.

Tuesday, 23 August 2022
Mwende S 2022. DCI arrests 3 suspects found in possession of pangolin in Kwale.

DCI detectives based at the Serious Crimes Unit on Tuesday arrested three suspects in Kinango, Kwale County, after being found in possession of a male pangolin.

Monday, 27 June 2022
2022. Kwale police arrest two illegal pangolin hunters.

Kwale police have arrested two men who were illegally in possession of a pangolin. The two were nabbed at Malomani area in Samburu sub-county.

Monday, 20 June 2022
2022. Suspected poacher allegedly shot and killed near Kombat.

An adult male, suspected to be a poacher, was shot and killed on Sunday afternoon at Farm Salzbrunnen near Kombat in the Otjozondjupa Region, allegedly during an exchange of gunfire with two farmworkers patrolling the farm.Namibian Police Force.

Monday, 6 June 2022
2022. Intensify war on poaching.

The exploits of three Kenyans charged in a US court with ivory and rhino horn trafficking have brought the war against poaching back to focus. Abubakar Mansur Mohammed Surur, 62, who pleaded guilty to poaching charges in a US court, and his accomplices made Sh864.8 million in seven years from the illegal sale of ivory and rhinoceros horns.

Wednesday, 16 February 2022
Masika C 2022. Man in court for trying to sell Sh300,000 tusks to cops.

The charge sheet says the tusks weighed three kilograms, worth Sh300,000.

Friday, 28 January 2022
Wangui P 2022. Two suspected poachers arrested, 14 pieces of ivory recovered.

Two suspected poachers were on Thursday arrested in Korinda junction in Busia county. Police acted on a tip-off from members of the public and nabbed the two men, 60-year-old Mohamed Abbas and a 70-year-old Paul Wafula Njoka. The suspects were using a motorbike with registration number KMEV721N in their operation. The police recovered the haul after conducting a search. They took them as exhibits together with the motorbike. The two suspects were taken to Busia Police station as they wait to be arraigned to answer to charges.

Thursday, 18 November 2021
2021. Man arrested for possession of pangolin skin at Rundu.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on Monday morning after allegedly being found in possession of a protected wildlife product at Rundu in the Kavango East Region. The Namibian Police Force's Chief Inspector in the Kavango East Region, Melanie Mburu told Nampa on Tuesday that the suspect was found in possession of a pangolin skin at Rundu's Ngandu Lodge at around 11h30.

Saturday, 9 October 2021
Waithaka E 2021. Four suspected poachers arrested with 76kg ivory.

Kenya Wildlife Service wardens in Laikipia on Wednesday evening arrested four suspected poachers and recovered four pieces of elephant ivories weighing 76 kilogrammes.

Friday, 6 August 2021
Mgidi S 2021. Two suspects caught with 39 black bags of perlemoen.

Two men have been arrested in Jansenville with 39 black bags of perlemoen worth about R432,000 and an illegal firearm in their possession.

Tuesday, 8 June 2021
Mgidi S 2021. Six arrested and perlemoen worth R1.4m seized.

A high-speed chase by the Gqeberha flying squad and a private anti-poaching unit resulted in the arrest of six people for the illegal possession of perlemoen on Tuesday morning.

Wednesday, 2 June 2021
2021. Two remanded in custody for alleged possession of elephant tusk.

The two men who were allegedly found with a freshly removed elephant tusk in their possession at Gam in the Tsumkwe Constituency Saturday night, were on Monday remanded in police custody at Tsumkwe. The 23-year-old Karuhava Kahaka and Vekotokeraije Keharara, 38, appeared in the Tsumkwe Periodical Court on Monday on charges of dealing in and/or possession of a prohibited game product.

Sunday, 30 May 2021
2021. Elephant tusk seized from two suspected dealers at Gam.

A freshly removed elephant tusk was on Saturday night seized from two men who allegedly tried to sell it to an undercover police officer at Gam settlement in the Tsumkwe Constituency.

Wednesday, 26 May 2021
Koen D 2021. Four arrested for perlemoen poaching near Port Alfred.

Four men were arrested after allegedly being found in possession of perlemoen and diving equipment near Port Alfred on Tuesday. An off-duty Port Alfred police officer apprehended four men after allegedly catching them with about R13,000 worth of perlemoen. Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said the officer, based at a unit in Port Alfred, received information about possible perlemoen poachers in the Kasouga area.

Tuesday, 27 April 2021
2021. Man arrested for hunting of protected game at Outjo.

A 29-year-old man was arrested for hunting specially protected game at Outjo on Friday, the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) has reported. In its weekend serious crime report issued Sunday, NamPol said the suspect was arrested after allegedly shooting an impala.

Saturday, 10 April 2021
2021. Three cases opened, seven suspects arrested for wildlife crimes.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) wildlife crime statistics indicate that three new cases of wildlife crime were opened and seven suspects arrested from 29 March 2021 to 06 April 2021. Statistics availed to Nampa on Thursday indicate that six suspects were arrested for rhino poaching, including cases of conspiracy of rhino poaching. One suspect was arrested for alleged elephant poaching and trafficking. One rhino carcass and two elephant tusks were recovered during the period under review, while two firearms were seized.

Saturday, 12 December 2020
2020. Five white rhinos killed by poachers in November in Botswana.

At least five white rhinos were killed and dehorned on different occasions in November, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks in Botswana confirmed Thursday.

Thursday, 12 November 2020
2020. NamPower investigating employee accused of illegal hunting at Kalkfeld.

NamPower has launched an internal investigation against its employee, Joel Ochurub, who was arrested Saturday near Kalkfeld after he was allegedly found with poached warthogs and an impala in an official vehicle.

Wednesday, 30 September 2020
2020. Three arrested with elephant tusks.

Three men were arrested for allegedly possessing elephant tusks on 22 September at Mukwe in the Kavango East Region.

Friday, 3 July 2020
Diaz C 2020. The stronghold for Africa’s elephants is under certain threat.

As we now know, Botswana is home to a third of Africa's declining elephant population. But, over the last two months, 350 elephant carcasses have been spotted in the Okavango Delta since the start of May. It is a serious worry that over 350 elephants have died with no clear reason and indeed a conservation disaster.
The world looks at this mysterious deaths and needs to know the real cause of the mass loss of elephants, and what should be done to stop this unnatural disaster, one thing the deaths are unrelated to drought.

Tuesday, 7 April 2020
2020. Two arrested for possession of wildlife products at Rundu.

Two men age 33 and 39 were arrested here on Friday for being in possession of controlled wildlife products. The Namibian Police Force crime investigations coordinator for the Kavango East Region, Deputy Commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu told Nampa on Monday the incident happened at around 21h00. Kanyetu said at the time of the arrest the two men were found in possession of two leopard skins and three pangolin skins.

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