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.
While two suspects in a multimillion-dollar rhino-horn theft case were released on bail this week, an alleged poaching kingpin was denied permission to appeal against the refusal of his bail application. Petrus Shihepo Shimuningeni has been fingered as the mastermind behind a poaching syndicate which targeted a private game farm near Etosha National Park in the Kunene Region, where at least 13 rhinos have been poached this year.
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NAM_2019-10_Poaching syndicate fights for bail_Namibian Sun.pdf | 79.28 KB |
'n Man is Donderdag by 'n vulstasie op Okahandja glo met 'n lewende ietermagô in sy besit in hegtenis geneem.
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NAM_2019-09_Man vas oor lewende ietermago_Republikein.pdf | 92.86 KB |
Die drie vermeende ivoorsmokkelaars, mnre. Dirk Vermeulen, Edgar Clark en Michael Lusse, is Vrydag in die Walvisbaaise landdroshof op borgtog van N$30 000 elk vrygelaat.
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NAM_2019-09_Vermeende ivoorsmokkelaars kry borg_Republikein.pdf | 143.92 KB |
Die eienaar van ’n wildsplaas op Outjo, waar 34 renosterhorings in Augustus uit ’n instapkluis gesteel is, is verheug twee verdagtes is in hegtenis geneem.
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NAM_2019-09_Geen borg vir vermeende horingdiewe_Republikein.pdf | 128.4 KB |
The arrest of more suspects connected to the theft of 34 rhino horns from a safe in a house in Outjo might follow after two men, Hofan Amakali and Elias Mutwikange, were denied bail after their first appearance in the town’s Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Inspector Maurene Mbeha, spokesperson of the Namibian Police in the Otjozondjupa Region, confirmed the arrest of Amakali and Mutwikange in the middle of last week.
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NAM_2019-09_Outjo rhino horn thieves denied bail_Informante.pdf | 399.87 KB |
Die drie vermeende ivoorsmokkelaars, mnre. Dirk Vermeulen, Edgar Clark en Michael Lusse, is Vrydag in die Walvisbaaise landdroshof op borgtog van N$30 000 elk vrygelaat. Tydens hul borgtogaansoek Donderdag en Vrydag het al drie beskuldigdes getuig hulle was nooit bewus van die olifanttande se oorsprong nie.
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NAM_2019-09_Vermeende ivoorsmokkelaars kry borg_Republikein_0.pdf | 143.92 KB |
Three men accused of smuggling elephant tusks and attempting to sell the wildlife contraband to undercover detectives in Walvis Bay is set to bring a formal bail application to the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s court later today. Dirk Vermeulen, Edgar Clark were arrested almost three weeks ago and their co-accused Micheal Lusse was arrested a few days later in connection with the sale of two elephant tusks. They were all remanded in custody during the initial appearance in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court Three more suspects have been arrested after the Namibian Police…
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NAM_2019-09_More rhino Poachers captured_Informante.pdf | 441.88 KB |
Altesaam 280 polisielede van oraloor die land word in teenstropingseenhede op 'n driemaandelikse roteringsbasis in die Palmwagkonsessie en die Etosha en Bwabwata Nasionale Parke ontplooi. Só het die polisiehoof, lt.genl. Sebastian Ndeitunga, verlede week by 'n slypskool vir wildmisdaadwetgewing aan ondersoekbeamptes en aanklaers in die hoofstad gesê.
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NAM_2019-09_Teenstropery_ 280 polisielede veg saam_Republikein.pdf | 88.28 KB |
Zwei Nashörner sind im Dordabis-Distrikt Wilderern zum Opfer gefallen. Die zwei Dickhäuter sollen zwischen dem 9. und 11. September auf einer Farm erschossen worden sein. Wie die Polizei gestern nach Redaktionsschluss mitteilte, hat der Farmeigentümer am vergangenen Donnerstag die enthornten Kadaver entdeckt. Die Polizei geht von einem Täter aus, doch bisher wurde noch niemand verhaftet und die Ermittlung dauere an.
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NAM_2019-09_Zwei Nashorner gewildert_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 115.11 KB |
A CIVIL servant in the employ of the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture was arrested early on Wednesday morning after he attempted to flee from police who was tracking his movements because of his involvement in elephant poaching. The arrest of the education minister official follows an intricate undercover tracking operation launched by the Namibian Police and officials from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism in the Zambezi Region. Zambezi Regional Crime Coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Evans Simasiku told Informanté in an exclusive interview that the suspect…
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NAM_2019-07_Suspected poacher arrested while using government vehicle_Informante.pdf | 1.5 MB |
Altesaam 13 verdagtes is verlede week vanaf 9 tot 15 September in verband met wildmisdaad in hegtenis geneem. Vyf uit die 13 verdagtes is vas oor renosterstropery of die handel in horings, en een oor olifantstropery of handel in ivoor. Volgens die weeklikse statistieke van wildmisdaad van die Namibiese polisie se eenheid vir beskermde hulpbronne (PRU) en die ministerie van die omgewing en toerisme se intelligensie- en ondersoekeenheid, is sewe nuwe sake verlede week aanhangig gemaak. Beslagleggings is op twee elk renosterhorings, olifanttande, lewende ietermagôs,…
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NAM_2019-09_13 vermeende wildmisdadigers vas_Republikein.pdf | 82.57 KB |
The Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, has called on the Namibian police to enforce strict bail conditions to reoccurring poachers as many of the wildlife trafficking incidents that have been reported are mostly committed by criminals who have been released from police custody on bail. He said that because the poaching business in enticing and profitable, many of the suspects commit the same offense immediately after being released on bail as no one is carefully monitoring their movement and whereabouts.
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NAM_2019-09_Poachers roaming Namibian streets freely_Informante.pdf | 348.13 KB |
Die vermeende renosterstroper wat Sondag glo op polisie- en weermaglede op 'n plaas buite Otavi losgebrand het, het vanoggend in dié dorp se landdroshof verskyn.
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NAM_2019-09_Vermeende skietmal renoserstroper verskyn in Otavi_hof_Republikein.pdf | 116.18 KB |
A 40-year-old suspected rhino poacher exchanged gunfire with a team of 15 Namibian Police officers and members of the Namibian Defence Force for nearly two hours on a farm outside Otavi on Sunday.
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NAM_2019-09_Police_suspected poacher exchange gunfire_The Namibian.pdf | 384.13 KB |
THE 25-year-old Tjingeje Muhuka and Mbinda Kenahama also aged 25, who stands accused of attempting to sell an elephant tusk to undercover detectives at the start of the weekend, were remanded in custody until 19 October after the made their first appearance in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court on Monday. The two accused persons were arrested on charges of possession and trade in protected wildlife products after they attempted to sell a single elephant tusk and a dried pangolin skin to undercover detectives In Walvis Bay on Friday evening.
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NAM_2019-09_Two ivory smugglers remanded in custody_Informante.pdf | 376.18 KB |
Die vermeende renosterstroper wat Sondag glo op polisie- en weermaglede op 'n plaas buite Otavi losgebrand het, het vanoggend in dié dorp se landdroshof verskyn. Mnr. Joseph Ngoma (42) het op klagte van die onwettige jag van beskermde wild, asook die besit van 'n renosterhoring en 'n ongelisensieerde vuurwapen en ammunisie verskyn. 'n Klag van poging tot moord is bygevoeg omdat hy Sondag glo op 15 polisie- en weermaglede geskiet het toe hulle hom in hegtenis wou neem.
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NAM_2019-09_Vermeende skietmal renoserstroper verskyn in Otavi_hof_Republikein_0.pdf | 116.18 KB |
Die Namibiese polisie het verlede week drie olifanttande, twee -velle en een stuk ivoor gekonfiskeer.
Vier verdagtes is in verband met olifantstropery en -ivoorsmokkelary in hegtenis geneem, lui statistieke van wildmisdaad van 2 tot 8 September wat deur die polisie se eenheid vir bekermde hulpbronne (PRU) en die ministerie van die omgewing en toerisme se intelligensieen ondersoekeenheid verskaf is.
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NAM_2019-09_Vier vas oor olifantprodukte_Republikein.pdf | 81.68 KB |
Geheime polisie het twee mans Saterdag op heterdaad betrap toe hulle glo twee olifanttande van die hand probeer sit het. Geen borgtog is Maandag aan mnre. Dirk Vermeulen (51) and Edgar Clark (41) toegestaan ná hulle die tande na bewering aan polisiebeamptes probeer verkwansel het nie.
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NAM_2019-09_Vermeende ivoorskelms op heterdaad betrap_Republikein.pdf | 92.67 KB |
A STING operation executed by members of the Namibian Police in the Erongo Region that were joined by officers from other regions in country saw the arrest of two men in Walvis Bay who attempted to sell elephant tusks to undercover detectives. According to Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu, Erongo Regional Crime Investigations Coordinator, the two suspects aged 41 and 51 were arrested after they tried to finalise the transaction on Saturday afternoon.
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2019-08_Elephant tusk smugglers arrested in Walvis Bay_Informante.pdf | 328.23 KB |
NINE men were arrested over the past for the poaching of protected wildlife species. This is according to environment ministry spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, who stated that the suspects form part of the three newly registered wildlife criminal cases. It is alleged that Gideon Gao-Naseb, Timotheus Kasera and Champion Haraseb killed a rhino at the Omateva farm in the Omitara constituency. They now face charges of hunting of specially protected species and the removal of protected products. The trio was arrested on 20 August and have been remanded in custody.
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NAM_2019-08_Nine arrested for wildlife crimes_Informant.pdf | 318.89 KB |
Two men appeared in the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court on a charge of dealing in elephants tusks on Monday.
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NAM_2019-09_Two men nabbed over elephant tusks_The Namibian.pdf | 333.62 KB |
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism have mobilised all available resources to collaborate with the Namibian Police in tracing the 34 rhino horns that was stolen from a house in Outjo during a burglary.
According to the MET’s Director of Wildlife and National Parks, Colgar Sikopo, the incident is a cause of serious concern for the ministry as the custodial authority because of the reputational damage the incident caused to Namibia as a responsible manager of wildlife and other natural resources.
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NAM_2019-08_Rhino horn theft cause for serious concern_Informante.pdf | 622.03 KB |
The owner of a game farm in the Outjo district has suffered millions in the weekend after burglars stole 34 rhinoceros horns, cash of unknown value, jewels, cell phones and three weapons from a vault in his home.
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2019-08_Farmer suffers millions loss - Nature and Environment - General newspaper.pdf | 139.88 KB |
A 31-Year-old Zambian man was arrested yesterday arrested at Mukuyu village after he was found in possession of one elephant tusk and a rhino horn.
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NAM_2019-08_Man nabbed for possession of elephant tusk_rhino horn - The Namibian.pdf | 593.11 KB |
Meanwhile, the police have arrested 19 suspects in connection with wildlife crimes, and seized eight wildlife products since the start of August. According to a wildlife crime statistics report for this month issued by the Protected Resources Division of the Namibian Police yesterday, the wildlife products seized include four oryx carcasses, two live pangolins, a pangolin skin and a duiker.
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NAM_2019-08_Police arrest 118 for drug possession_The Namibian.pdf | 246.7 KB |
'n Renoster is laat gister teen skemertyd in die Etosha Nasionale Park deur 'n voertuig gestamp.
Die hoofwoordvoerder van die Namibiese polisie, adj.komm. Edwin Kanguatjivi, het die voorval bevestig en gesê die renoster moes deur 'n veearts uitgesit word. Hy het gesê die voorval het in die noordelike deel van die park plaasgevind en die voertuig is deur 'n beampte van die ministerie van die omgewing en toerisme bestuur. "Die polisie is besig om die saak te ondersoek of die bestuurder nalatig bestuur het of nie," het Kanguatjivi gesê.
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NAM_2019-08_Renoster in Etosha gestamp_Republikein.pdf | 155.15 KB |
Goods, among them rhino horns with a combined value of N$100 million, were stolen from a house in Outjo while the owner was away over the weekend.
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NAM_2019-08_Rhino horns and goods worth N$100 million looted_New Era Live.pdf | 333.96 KB |
'n Zambiese man is gister in Malengalenga in die Zambezistreer met een renosterhoring en een olifanttand deur die Nambiese polisie in hegtenis geneem.
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ZAM_2019-08_Zambier vas met renosterhoring_ivoor_Republikein.pdf | 96.19 KB |
THE protection and management Namibian wildlife and products derived from it will suffer immeasurable damage after 34 rhino horns and millions in local and foreign currency with a total value of N$100 million was stolen on an unguarded hunting farm in the district of Outjo over the weekend. One of the most comprehensive investigations were launched by the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga, into the theft and especially the circumstances surrounding the theft while the police legal department on the instruction of the general…
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NAM_2019-08_Theft of 34 rhino horns will damage Namibias reputation_Informante.pdf | 445.47 KB |
The Namibian Police Force (NamPol)'s Anti-Poaching Unit has since June this year arrested 48 people for alleged rhinoceros poaching crimes. Furthermore, about 22 of those arrested have appeared in the Okahao Magistrate's Court in Omusati Region during the month of July this year, while an unspecified small number of suspects were released, pending further police investigations into their cases.
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NAM_2015-08_48 rhino poaching suspects arrested since June_The Namibian.pdf | 327.41 KB |
A report that will be up for discussion at this week's World Wildlife Conference highlights inconsistencies in the exporting of rhino trophies from Namibia and says that 295 rhinos have been poached in Namibia between 2009 and 2018. It says the 44 rhinos that were poached in 2017 represented 1.5% of Namibia's rhino population. The 183 Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will adopt decisions and resolutions to expand and further strengthen the global wildlife trade regime at to be considered at the 18th…
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2019_08_Cites concerned about poaching_Environment_Namibian Sun.pdf | 101.85 KB |
A 33-year-old employee of an electricity company is one of four men arrested at Otjiwarongo on Monday with rhino horns that had been freshly sawed off.
Volgens statistieke wat deur die polisie-eenheid vir beskermde hulpbronne en die ministerie van die omgewing en toerisme se eenheid vir intelligensie en ondersoeke vir wildmisdaad in Augustus saamgestel is, is twee verdagtes in verband met renosterstropery of -horingsmokkelary of pogings daartoe in hegtenis geneem.
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NAM_2019-08_19 vas oor wildmisdaad_Republikein.pdf | 79.12 KB |
'n Boer (58) van 'n wildsplaas in die Outjo-distrik is die naweek van 34 renosterhorings, kontant in Amerikaanse en Nambiiese dollars, euros, rand, twee trouringe en drie vuurwapens ter waarde van sowat N$100 miljoen beroof.
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NAM_2019-08_34 renosterhorings uit boer se kluis gesteel_Republikein.pdf | 84.92 KB |
A total of 19 suspects were arrested for wildlife crimes during August with six new cases that were registered this month. This is according to wildlife crime statistics compiled by the Intelligence and Investigation Unit in the environment ministry and the Protected Resources Division in the Namibian Police. Statistics show that out of the 19 suspects arrested, two suspects were arrested for rhino poaching and or trafficking crimes (including cases of conspiracy of rhino poaching).
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NAM_2019-08_19 arrested for wildlife crime_Namibian Sun.pdf | 103.93 KB |
A total of 19 suspects were arrested for wildlife crimes during August with six new cases that were registered this month. This is according to wildlife crime statistics compiled by the Intelligence and Investigation Unit in the environment ministry and the Protected Resources Division in the Namibian Police. Statistics show that out of the 19 suspects arrested, two suspects were arrested for rhino poaching and or trafficking crimes (including cases of conspiracy of rhino poaching). Furthermore wildlife products that were seized included two live pangolin, one…
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NAM_2019-08_19 arrested for wildlife crime_Namibian Sun_0.pdf | 103.93 KB |
The 10 people charged with illegal hunting and possession of game meat at Kalkfeld settlement, made their first court appearance on Monday in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate's Court.
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NAM_2019-08_Lela Mobile Online_Ten in illegal hunting case at Kalkfeld appear in court.pdf | 484.65 KB |
Ten suspects between the ages of 16 and 33 years were on Friday arrested at Kalkfeld settlement in the Otjiwarongo constituency on charges of illegal hunting and possession of game meat without a valid permit.
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NAM_2019-08_Group arrested for illegal hunting at Kalkfeld_The Namibian.pdf | 1.22 MB |
An instructor at Valombola Vocational Training Center in Ongwediva and a member of the Namibian Defence Force attached to the Otavi military base, were on Sunday arrested by the Oshikoto police for illegal hunting.
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2019-07_NDF member nabbed for illegal hunting_New Era Live.pdf | 1.78 MB |
Three security officers and three employees of the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) are in custody at the Hosea Kutako International Airport after they killed two near extinct African wild dogs and wounded another one that was part of a pack of five in order to steal a kudu carcass that the animals managed to kill on the world famous N/a’an ku sê wildlife sanctuary where the animals were in the process of being rehabilitated.
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NAM_2019-02_NAC meat thieves kill rare African wild dog pack_Informante.pdf | 1.04 MB |
Poaching remains a big concern in Namibia, where it shows that poaching is moving away from the National parks and more into private farms and custodian farms. It can be attributed to the intensified security in parks.
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NAM_2019-07_Poaching decreases compared to last year_Informante.pdf | 1.49 MB |
A Namibian Sun investigation in Kavango, where it is alleged Chinese national Hou 'Josy' Xuecheng and others are continuing with logging, has revealed frenetic activity before transport and export permits expire this Sunday. Hou has, however, again denied that he is continuing to harvest trees in the Kavango East Region. Sources close to his operation have made the claim that his company, New Force Logistics CC, is still harvesting trees for export via the Walvis Bay harbour.
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NAM_2019-03_Making a killing_Environment_Namibian Sun.pdf | 191.51 KB |
A man, who stands accused of poaching two rhinos along with four other men on a private farm in the area of Kamanjab in December last year, was granted bail in the amount of N$18 000 this morning. Magistrate Immanuel Udjombala found that the 35-year-old George Nanyeni only role in the crime was that he transported his four co-accused, who actually slaughtered the rhinos, away from the crime scene.
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NAM_2019-07_Poacher gets N$18 000 bail_Informante.pdf | 397.34 KB |
Two men were arrested at Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi region on Wednesday after they were found in possession of four elephant tusks.
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NAM_2019-07_Two suspected poachers arrested in Zambezi region again_The Namibian.pdf | 276.64 KB |
Two suspected poachers were arrested on Monday night after they were found in possession of a crocodile skin in Kongola area of the Zambezi region.
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NAM_2019-07_Suspected poachers arrested in Zambezi region_The Namibian.pdf | 354.33 KB |
The 51-year-old Tobias Nuuyoma, a senior officer in the Namibian Defence Force and the 55-year-old Samuel Mumbala, a lecturer at the Valombola Vocational Training Centre were released on bail of N$ 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 |
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has recorded 26 poaching incidents since January, according to the ministry’s spokesperson Romeo Muyunda this week. According to the statistics, seven elephants and 19 rhinos were poached since January. In May, the ministry recorded 18 incidents in which eight animals were killed.
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NAM_2019-07_Seven elephants 19 rhinos poached since January_Namibia Economist.pdf | 2.16 MB |
The arrest of four people in the Zambezi Region on Sunday while they were in possession of wildlife contraband during concentrated operations by Namibian law enforcement agencies, revealed a smuggling route that stretches over Namibia’s borders with neighbouring Botswana and Zambia. The four accused persons, of whom two are teenage children and the third a Zambian national, appeared in three separate cases in the Katima Mulilo Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
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NAM_2019-06_Smugglers of wildlife products appear in court_Informante.pdf | 1 MB |
An illegal immigrant from Angola was part of a gang of three men arrested last week for poaching in the Otjimbingwe district in the Erongo region. An incident report by Erongo crime investigations coordinator Erastus Iikuyu indicated that Benicio Tavalu (40), an Angolan who only had an Angolan voter's card in his possession, was arrested with Namibians Simson Katambo (42) and Titus Kamati (26) last Thursday.
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NAM_2019-05_Illegal immigrant caught poaching in Erongo_The Namibian.pdf | 417.71 KB |
Government is tightening the noose on wildlife crime syndicates as the country's flora and fauna increasingly become endangered.
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NAM_2019-05_Justice ministry to prioritise wildlife crime_The Namibian.pdf | 314.62 KB |