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.
The Skukuza Regional Court has handed down a stiff sentence to a 34- year-old man from Mozambique who was recently convicted of several poaching related crimes including the illegal hunting and killing of rhino.
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SA_2021_05_Rhino Poaching Files_Poacher gets 25 years in jail_The South African.pdf | 699.91 KB |
A game farm in the Otavi area is offering a reward of N$50 000 for information that would lead to the arrest of the poachers who killed two nursing white rhino cows last weekend. Both rhinos had young calves. One calf was found, but another remains missing. Only one of the carcasses was dehorned. The other rhino escaped from the criminals, but died of her wounds in the bush.
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NAM_2021_05_Rhino cows poached at Ghaub_Namibian Sun.pdf | 394.92 KB |
While it was initially thought that the Rhino may have been shot, the post mortem team established that the rhino died of natural causes (fighting).
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SA_2021_05_SANParks takes legal action over sensationalised reports of dead rhino_The Citizen.pdf | 616.25 KB |
The brutal slaughter of two rhinos on Farm Ghaub in the area of Tsumeb in the past week not only left a huge void in the hearts and lives of their minders but also sabotaged job opportunities for people in the tourism industry of Namibia. The owners of Farm Ghaub decided to offer a reward of N$50 000 for information that would lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of the people responsible for the slaughter of Zanna and another rhino cow.
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NAM_2021_05_Big reward offered for the arrest of poachers_Informante.pdf | 2.35 MB |
A gruesome discovery by a group of tourists on a night-drive in Kruger National Park earlier this month has raised questions about how a rhino died. The tourists spotted a man emerging from bushes holding a horn dripping with blood, chopped from a critically-endangered Black rhino carcass, just 15m away. He and another man, dressed in what appeared to be a uniform, have subsequently been confirmed by SANParks to be employed by the park.
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SA_2021_05_SANParks criticised after tourists find employee_The Citizen.pdf | 952.94 KB |
'n Renosterkalfie is steeds soek nadat haar ma, wat met die hand grootgemaak is, en nóg ‘n witrenoster die afgelope naweek op ‘n gasteplaas gestroop is. ‘n Hartseer mnr. Joachim Rust van Ghaub Nature Reserve and Farm het gister vertel hoe hulle die tweejarige Zanna in 2014 as 'n kalfie gered en met ‘n melkbottel moes grootmaak. Zanna se ma het ná swaar reën in diep modder op ‘n plaas naby Waterberg vasgeval en is van uitputting dood. Zanna se karkas is Sondag in die veld gevind. Sy is geskiet en onthoring. Haar kalfie van 18 maande kon nie opgespoor word nie.
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NAM_2021_05_Renosters gestroop_kalfie soek_Republikein.pdf | 397.01 KB |
NAM_2021_05_Rhinos poached_calf search_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 299.13 KB |
Ein Gastbetrieb im Otavi-Dreieck beklagt den Verlust von zwei Breitmaulnashörnern, die am vergangenen Wochenende Wilderern zum Opfer fielen. In beiden Fällen waren es Kühe, die junge Kälber mit sich führten - eines wurde gefunden, doch ein weiteres bleibt verschollen. Nur eines der Tiere wurde enthornt. Das andere entkam zwar den Verbrechern, verendete dann aber qualvoll im Busch in Folge einer Bauchverletzung.
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NAM_2021_05_Nashorner auf Ghaub gewildert_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 610.71 KB |
NAM_2021_05_Rhinos poached on Ghaub_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 605.64 KB |
Trauma and feelings of utter loss were laid bare by the owner of a white rhino cow that was brutally slaughtered by poachers. Joachim Rust of Farm Ghaub gives a heart-rendering eyewitness account of what he had to go through when he discovered the dead rhino on his property.
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NAM_2021_05_Goodbye Zanna_Informante.pdf | 2.97 MB |
Paulus Pendapala (48), who has been arrested in connection with the possession of a rhino horn with a pastor and a police officer, has died. His death on Saturday came two weeks after he was denied bail in the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court on the basis that he was facing charges of dealing in wildlife products. According to acting Oshikoto regional commander commissioner Petrus Shigwedha, Paulus complained that he was not feeling well at about 11h00 on Saturday.
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NAM_2021_05_Man detained for wildlife crimes dies_The Namibian.pdf | 296.12 KB |
South African National Parks (SANParks) has welcomed the finalization of two long running rhino poaching trials by the Skukuza Regional Court. One rhino poacher was sentenced on 14 May whilst three, including a former SANParks employee, were sentenced on 17 May respectively. Nito Mathebula was arrested in Tshokwane Section in January 2019 while hunting in the Park illegally. Two of his accomplices managed to evade arrest. He was found guilty of trespassing in a National Park, breaking the Immigration Act and the killing of a rhino.
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SA_2021_05_SANParks applauds the sentences imposed on four rhino poachers_defenceWeb.pdf | 559.99 KB |
Namibia has recorded a drastic drop in poaching cases with only two rhinos poached so far this year compared to 13 poaching cases recorded at the same period last year, the Ministryof Environment, Forestry and Tourism spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda said this week.
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NAM_2021_05_Rhino poaching cases decline in comparison to last year_Namibia Economist.pdf | 968.94 KB |
Namibia has recorded a drastic drop in poaching cases with only two rhinos poached so far this year compared to 13 poaching cases recorded at the same period last year, Environment Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said on Monday.
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NAM_2021_05_Namibia records drop in poaching cases_Xinhua.pdf | 190.24 KB |
Kasane - Rhino poaching in Botswana is getting worse, and the government is not helping matters in any way due to its split attitude on the crisis. On the one hand, the government of President Mokgweetsi Masisi - in power since 2018 - acknowledges the seriousness of the crisis but, when it suits it, the administration ambivalently denies any calamity and neglects taking decisive action.
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BOT_2021_05_Southern Africa_ Botswana Rhino Poaching Worsens As Government Dithers_allAfrica_com.pdf | 252.64 KB |
The rhino poaching trial of six Zimbabweans, four of whom are allegedly in South Africa illegally, will proceed in the high court sitting in Makhanda on Thursday. Francis Chitiyo, 31, Trymore Chauke, 26, Micheck Chauke, 23, Simba Masinge, 23, Nhamo Muyambo, 28 and Abraham Moyane, 23, - all of whom live in East London - face some 38 charges related to the poaching of about eight rhino in the Eastern Cape between 2017 and 2018. They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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ZIM_2021_05_Six Zimbabweans face multiple charges linked to rhino poaching_Dispatch Live.pdf | 307.95 KB |
A Windhoek resident who admitted he possessed rhino horns in the city nearly five years ago suffered an expensive loss at the end of his trial in the Windhoek Regional Court on Friday, with a luxury vehicle which the police had seized from him declared forfeited to the state.
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NAM_2021_05_State gets luxury car in rhino case_The Namibian.pdf | 636.54 KB |
A pastor and a member of the Namibian Police, who were allegedly found in possession of a rhino horn, were last week granted bail in the amount of N$5 000 each when they appeared in the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court. Alfons Tjikuru of the Enlightened Christian Gathering at Otjiwarongo, which is led by the controversial 'prophet' Shepherd Bushiri, and officer Michael Muronga, as well as Herman Paulus were arrested on 13 March this year after they were allegedly found in possession of rhino horn.
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NAM_2021_05_Another pastor in court over wildlife crime_The Namibian.pdf | 717.96 KB |
The strict limits on travel, including international travel, imposed in March last year had the happy side effect of keeping poachers at bay. In 2020, 394 rhinos were poached, 30% fewer than the year before and the lowest yearly tally since 2011. But then South Africa began easing international travel restrictions in November. "Since November, December last year and into 2021, this landscape and particularly Kruger National Park has been experiencing serious numbers of rhino poaching incidents," said Jo Shaw, the Africa Rhino Lead for WWF International Network.
There are fewer than 5,630 black rhinos left in the wild, but the last remaining free-ranging population live in the Kunene and Erongo regions of North West Namibia. These special desert-adapted rhinos are protected by our partner Save the Rhino Trust (SRT). The past year has been especially difficult for SRT's team. They have not only had to cope with the ever-present threat of poaching and drought but also had to deal with the additional pressures brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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NAM_2021_04_Mounting efforts to save rhinos in Namibia_Save The Rhino.pdf | 434.54 KB |
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, funded and supported by conservation NGO Wildlife ACT, dehorned the white rhino population in Spioenkop Nature Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal over three days, making it one of the biggest rhino dehorning operations in the province. On Wednesday, Wildlife ACT, a registered non-profit organisation established to save Africa's iconic and endangered species from extinction, explained that dehorning of rhino populations was adopted as an effective tool in the fight to save the species from increasing poaching threats.
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SA_2021_04_White rhino population at KZN nature reserve dehorned_Times Live.pdf | 529.73 KB |
It is imperative that African countries as a continent recognise that we are faced with a similar issue, rhino poaching as a Wildlife crime. According to the non-profitable organization Save the Rhino Trust, Namibia holds almost a third of Africa's black rhino population, with a stronghold for the South Western black rhino subspecies. The ever-present threat of rhino poaching haunts the future of the black rhino in Namibia and this depends largely on our nation’s ability to protect this important rhino population.
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NAM_2021_04_Opinion_Wildlife crimes on a downtrend_New Era.pdf | 388.98 KB |
Windhoek Magistrate's Court has given a final remand for the prosecutor general Martha Imalwa to pronounce herself in the case of self-proclaimed prophet Jackson Babi. According to State prosecutor Rowan van Wyk, the PG's decision is not available; thus, magistrate Linus Samunzala postponed the case finally to 9 June.
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NAM_2021_04_Babi fate in PGs hands_New Era.pdf | 329.84 KB |
South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced another operation that led to the arrest of three suspected poachers on Wednesday 21 April in the Crocodile Bridge Section of the Kruger National Park (KNP). A high calibre hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment were seized during the successful operation.
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SA_2021_04_SANParks records another successful anti_poaching operation in the KNP_defenceWeb.pdf | 471.85 KB |
Fünf Verdächtige wurden vergangene Woche in Verbindung mit Wildtierverbrechen in drei separaten Fällen verhaftet. Drei der Verdächtigen wurden im Zusammenhang mit Nashorn-Wilderei oder Nasenhorn - Handel verhaftet.
Five suspects were arrested in three separate cases last week in connection with wildlife crimes. Three of the suspects were arrested in connection with rhino poaching or rhino horn trafficking.
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NAM_2021_04_Nashornkadaver beschlagnahmt_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 226.13 KB |
NAM_2021_04_Rhinoceros carcasses confiscated_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 225.11 KB |
According to the Combatting Wildlife Crime in Namibia Annual Report for 2020, rhino crimes accounted for most arrests during the past year, with 145 suspects having been detained. "A significant number of these were pre-emptive arrests, where suspects were caught before they could kill a rhino. This is not only a highly commendable law enforcement success, but also a very positive conservation outcome. Pre-emptive arrests have directly saved numerous rhinos and will allow the population to continue to multiply," the report stated.
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NAM_2021_04_Wildlife crime decreases in 2020_Confidente.pdf | 2.03 MB |
Fälle der Wilderei sind im vergangenen Jahr zurückgegangen - Schuppentiere "am meisten" gehandelt. Mehr als 300 Personen wurden im vergangenen Jahr wegen Wildtierverbrechen an hochwertigen Arten festgenommen. Die geringste Anzahl gemeldete Fälle wird im Zusammenhang mit der Nashorn-Wilderei, die höchste Anzahl wiederum im Zusammenhang mit dem Handel von Schuppentieren verzeichnet.
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NAM_2021_04_Coronakrise bremst Nashorn_Wilderei_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 541.38 KB |
NAM_2021_04_Corona crisis slows rhino poaching_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 540.03 KB |
In Namibia sind die Anzahl Fälle der Wilderei im Jahr 2020 im Gegensatz zum Vorjahr deutlich zurückgegangen - besonders die Anzahl Fälle mit hochwertigen Arten, seien es Nashörner, Elefanten oder Schuppentiere. Das teilte das Umweltministerium jetzt mit. Demnach wurden 2020 lediglich 25 Fälle im Zusammenhang mit der Nashorn-Wilderei gemeldet. Die Aufnahme zeigt einen vom Umweltministerium aufbewahrten Schädelhaufen von Nashörnern.
Although wildlife crime is ultimately driven by demand in consumer countries, Namibians continue to make up over 90% of arrested wildlife crime suspects in country. This according to the environment ministry and police’s Annual Wildlife Crime Report for 2020. A massive 91% of the 304 suspects arrested for wildlife crimes of high value species in last year were Namibians. Suspects from neighbouring countries made up the rest of the arrests and included Angolans (5%), Zimbabweans (4%) and Batswana (0.4%).
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NAM_2021_04_Namibians arrested for 90 percent of wildlife crimes_Namibian Sun.pdf | 373.02 KB |
Die vierde vermeende renosterstroper in die Gobabis-saak, mnr. Hamukoto Kanana Erastus, is ook verlede week in hegtenis geneem. Dit volg nadat die karkas van 'n ver dragtige witrenosterkoei op Vrydag 2 April op 'n lodge in die Gobabis-distrik gevind is. Met behulp van boere, spoorsnyers en die K9-teenstropingseenheid is drie verdagtes, mnre. Zondundi Tjipuiko, Frederik Hamukoto en Tjimbaka Mbatiminua, Sondag 4 April by 'n padblokkade buite Gobabis in hegtenis geneem. In hul besit was glo 'n jaggeweer en 22 patrone.
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NAM_2021_04_Vierde renosterstroper van Gobabis vas_Republikein.pdf | 325.68 KB |
NAM_2021_04_Gobabis fourth rhino poacher caught_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 326.41 KB |
Among the more than 300 people arrested for wildlife crimes involving high-value species last year, several were important, high-level suspects that included dealers and kingpins. According to the Combatting Wildlife Crime Annual Report 2020, a kingpin from a neighbouring country with "complex Namibian connections and links to end markets in Asia" was arrested in Namibia during a covert operation last year. A suspect with dual nationalities under different aliases was also arrested while attempting to traffic contraband from regional sources into Namibia.
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NAM_2021_04_Kingpins dealers among poaching suspects arrested in 2020_Namibian Sun.pdf | 404.98 KB |
Die voorkoms van wildmisdaad, veral rakende renosters, olifante en ietermagôs het in 2020 gedaal, maar steeds is ’n derde van alle inhegtenisnemings verwant aan dié hoë waarde spesies. Volgens 2020 se wildmisdaadverslag is 31% minder sake aanhangig gemaak, asook 31% minder verdagtes as in 2019 in hegtenis geneem. Altesaam 145 verdagtes is in verband met renosterstropery of horingsmokkelary in hegtenis geneem, maar in 2020 is op meer renosterhorings (21) beslag gelê as die 13 in 2019.
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NAM_2021_04_Wildmisdaadsindikate in 2020 vasgetrek_Republikein.pdf | 333.29 KB |
NAM_2021_04_Game crime syndicates arrested in 2020_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 330.71 KB |
Die vierde vermeende renosterstroper in die Gobabis-saak, mnr. Hamukoto Kanana Erastus, is ook in hegtenis geneem.
The fourth alleged rhino poacher in the Gobabis case, Mr. Hamukoto Kanana Erastus, was also arrested.
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NAM_2021_04_Vierde renosterstroper van Gobabis_saak vas_Republikein.pdf | 312.67 KB |
NAM_2021_04_Fourth rhino poacher arrested in Gobabis case_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 218.44 KB |
Ses vermeende renosterstropers en een ivoorsmokkelaar is verlede week in hegtenis geneem. Die drie beskuldigdes van die stropery van 'n ver dragtige witrenosterkoei by 'n lodge in die Gobabis-distrik verlede naweek is mnre. Zondundi Tjipuiko, Frederik Hamukoto en Tjimbaka Mbatiminua. Hulle is vasgetrek nadat boere, die K9-teenstropingseenheid en spoorsnyers hul spore tot by die informele nedersetting in Gobabis gevolg het waar hulle met voertuie gevlug het.
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NAM_2021_04_Ses vas vir renosterstropery_Republikein.pdf | 233.21 KB |
NAM_2021_04_Six arrested for rhino poaching_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 232.96 KB |
Namibians continue to make up over 90% of arrested wildlife crime suspects in the country, according to the Combatting Wildlife Crime in Namibia Annual Report 2020 released last week. According to the report, although wildlife crime is ultimately driven by demand in consumer countries, locals seem to be the bulk of the arrests.
Pangolin was the most trafficked high-value protected species according to the 2020 Annual Report on the Combatting of Wildlife Crime released last week. According to the report, only one pangolin of the 74 seized by the law enforcement agencies was alive while 129 of these nocturnal animals were poached in 2019. The report emphasised that law enforcement relating to pangolin poaching and trafficking represent a major challenge because the animals are largely collected opportunistically. However, transboundary intelligence collaboration has led to the…
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.
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NAM_2021_04_Three cases opened seven suspects arrested for wildlife crimes_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 48.39 KB |
Improved law enforcement and more effective disruption of criminal networks led to the decline in the number of rhino poaching in Namibia in 2020, according to a report released Friday. On the other hand, significantly more rhino horns were seized during 2020 than in 2019, the Combating Wildlife Crime in Namibia Annual Report 2020 states. The report states that the arrests during 2020 have included a number of high-level perpetrators, with significant international connections.
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NAM_2021_04_Improved law enforcement helps reduce rhino poaching in Namibia_CGTN Africa.pdf | 208.59 KB |
During their investigation of the Bruwer case, the Hawks found that Elliot Sindane (69), Elvis Mlimi (50) and Mabuthi Khoza (35) were implicated on charges of illegal hunting, illegal possession of firearms and illegal rhino horn dealings over a decade ago.
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SA_2021_04_Hawks revive old cases against suspects in Bruwer case_Lowvelder.pdf | 432.38 KB |
Drei mutmaßliche Nashorn-Wilderer wurden am Samstag mit Hilfe von Farmern und der K9-Anti-Wilderei-Einheit mit einer Schusswaffe festgenommen, nachdem am Freitag bei einer Lodge im Gobabis-Distrikt der Kadaver einer trächtigen Breitmaulnashornkuh entdeckt worden war.
Three suspected rhinoceros poachers, with a gun, were arrested on Saturday with the help of farmers and the K9 anti-poaching unit after the carcass of a pregnant white rhinoceros was discovered on Friday at a lodge in the Gobabis district.
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NAM_2021_04_Mutmaßliche Wilderer gefasst_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 323.33 KB |
NAM_2021_04_Suspected poachers caught_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 320.11 KB |
Five people including three policemen have ended up in hot soup over possession of wildlife trophies including elephant ivory. According to Bashir Hangi, the Public Relations Manager at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the suspects were arrested in two different incidences in Kampala and Kapelabyong in Teso sub region.
Drie vermeende renosterstropers met 'n vuurwapen is Saterdag met behulp van boere, spoorsnyers en die K9- teenstropingseenheid vasgetrek nadat die karkas van 'n dragtige witrenosterkoei Vrydag by 'n lodge in die Gobabis-distrik ontdek is.
Three suspected rhino poachers with a firearm were arrested on Saturday with the help of farmers, trackers and the K9 anti-poaching unit after the carcass of a pregnant white rhino cow was discovered at a lodge in the Gobabis district on Friday.
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NAM_2021_04_Spoorsnyers help renosterstropers vastrek_Republikein.pdf | 274.44 KB |
NAM_2021_04_Detectives help catch rhino poachers_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 274.3 KB |
Drei mutmaßliche Schmuggler von Nasenhorn erschienen am vergangenen Montag vor dem Amtsgericht von Ondangwa. Die Männer erhielten keine Kaution. Laut dem Leiter der "Blue Rhino Task Force", Barry de Klerk, war einer der Angeklagten, Pendapala Herman, bereits auf Kaution auf freiem Fuß aufgrund eines vorigen Falls, bei dem 33 Nasenhörner bei Outjo gestohlen worden waren. Die beiden weiteren Angeklagten sind Michael Muronga, welcher der Kriminalpräventionseinheit der namibischen Polizei in Otjiwarongo angehört, und Alfons Tjukuru. Der Fall wurde bis zum 19. Juli vertagt.
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NAM_2021_04_Drei Schmuggler festgenommen_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 323.42 KB |
NAM_2021_04_Three smugglers arrested_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 227.25 KB |