The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism has noticed a concerning uptick in arrests associated with pangolin trafficking between 1 September and 30 November, prompting a mixture of relief and deep concern among authorities. Romeo Muyunda, the ministerial spokesperson, conveyed in a statement that while the rise in apprehensions signifies progress in combating the illicit trade, it also signifies a troubling escalation in crimes linked to pangolins. During this period, a total of 18 skins, 12 live animals, and 146 scales were confiscated, leading to 23 recorded cases and the arrest of 38 suspects. Muyunda highlighted the gravity of the situation by noting that these figures surpass the combined cases involving elephants and rhinos during the same timeframe.