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.
17 people sentenced for moving millions of dollars in tusks from West Africa as part of the biggest illicit network of its kind in China. Life terms show authorities are coming down hard on illegal trade, campaigner says.
A 27-year-old man suspected to have been a poacher, died instantly in the early hours of Monday after he was allegedly shot in the chest on a game farm near Okakarara. The spokesperson of the Namibian Police Force in the Otjozondjupa Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha on Monday said the deceased has been identied as Claudius Hameva from Okakarara.
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NAM_2020-12_Suspected poacher shot and killed on Farm Hamakari_NBC.pdf | 490.49 KB |
Sedert die begin van die jaar het boere in die Kalkfeld-, Omitara-, Witvlei- en Steinhausen-omgewing ’n gesamentlike verlies van meer as N$3,35 miljoen aan die diefstal van vee, wild en infrastruktuur gely. Die afgelope drie maande was die bloedigste en diewe het hier eiendom ter waarde van bykans N$1,1 miljoen weggedra. Sedert die begin van die jaar tot November, is in die Omitara-, Witvlei- en Steinhausen-omgewing verliese van meer as N$1,65 miljoen weens diefstal by die Nossob Misdaadvoorkomingsforum (NCPF) aangemeld. Die forum, wat noukeurig sedert sy ontstaan…
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NAM_2020_12_Boere steier onder misdaad_Republikein.pdf | 437.92 KB |
NAM_2020_12_Farmers Stumble Under Crime_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 384.73 KB |
Soldiers from the Royal Gurkha Rifles have trained Zambian rangers in anti-poaching skills and tactics – the first UK deployment of its kind in the country. The 30-strong unit spent six weeks in Zambia, sharing soldiering skills with the rangers to help strengthen their response to poaching and the illicit wildlife trade – thought to be worth £17bn a year internationally to criminal gangs. With a large elephant population and rare and endangered species in Zambia, there has been an increase in the number of groups selling illegal animal products internationally,…
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ZAM_2020_12_British Troops Train Zambian Rangers To Tackle Poaching_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 759.11 KB |
‘n Bejaarde man is gister by die Swakopmundrivier-plotte glo met ‘n ou renosterhoring en vyf stukke olifanttande in sy besit vasgetrek. Volgens die Namibiese polisie se misdaadverslag volg die inhegtenisneming van die 69-jarige man nadat die volgende ander items ná ‘n soektog glo in sy besit gevind is: 27 patrone van ‘n .308-geweer, twee patrone van ‘n R1- outomatiese aanvalsgeweer en 33 patrone van ‘n .22-vuurwapen.
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NAM_2020_12_Renosterhoring_ivoor op Swakop-plot gevind_Republikein.pdf | 191.31 KB |
NAM_2020_12_Rhino horn_ivory found on Swakop plot_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 201.27 KB |
A grant of 200 000 euro has been awarded to Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) Namibia to support local communities in protecting the world's last free-ranging black rhino population. It will also assist with the sustainability of initiatives that bring revenue to these communities. The project is funded by the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union (EU), through the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) Programme. According to SRT, this two-year project will train and equip trackers and rhino rangers to…
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NAM_2020_12_New project to protect black rhino_Namibian Sun.pdf | 345.09 KB |
Despite global economic uncertainty, the Save the Rhino Trust's long-standing donors continued international and national support and kept boots on the ground. This is according to the organisation's CEO, Simon Uri-Khob, who thanked the SRT team and all partners and donors for their hard work in dealing with the adverse effects of the coronavirus pandemic during the year. From April to August, Namibia was in various stages of government-mandated lockdown.
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NAM_2020_12_Donors keep boots on ground_Namibian Sun.pdf | 446.06 KB |
BIOPAMA: 200000 Euro für Schutz des Spitzmaulnashorns. Knapp 3,8 Millionen N$ soll der Naturschutzfonds Save the Rhino Trust in den kommenden zwei Jahren zwecks verbesserter Ausbildung und Nachrüstung der Naturschutzbeamten in den Kommunalgebieten empfangen, in denen die letzten freilebenden Spitzmaulnashörner Namibias und sogar der Welt vorkommen.
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NAM_2020_12_SRT großzuegig unterstuetzt_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 2.51 MB |
NAM_2020_12_SRT generously supported_Allgemeine Zeitung_ENG.pdf | 2.51 MB |
When a squad of federal and state law enforcement agents with guns and bulletproof vests entered a single-story brick home in Buffalo, New York, on July 5, 2018 they were searching for business records of a suspected criminal enterprise. Experts trained to handle dangerous exotic cats congregated in a sunroom pungent with the odor of cat urine.
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INTERNATIONAL_2020_12_Black_market wildlife trade_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 976.18 KB |
An intense debate continues to rage over whether the Namibian government should maintain its existing stockpiles of collected legal and confiscated illegal ivory. Trading in valuable wildlife products is one of the most important incentives for Namibia's coexistence with wildlife, especially rhinos and elephants, to support its conservation. There are two categories of stockpiles: Those held legally and those held illegally. Legally-held stockpiles consist of raw ivory, and are mostly owned by the government under the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Act 9 of 2008…
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NAM_2020_12_The Fate of Ivory Stockpiles_The Namibian.pdf | 965.2 KB |
Five poachers were gunned down by Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) rangers in 10 incidents of armed confrontation in national parks this year amid an intensifying crackdown on poaching by authorities. Poaching activities declined significantly this year, thanks to the introduction of new anti-poaching strategies that include deployment of high-tech drones to monitor conservancies, retraining of rangers and the introduction of a shoot-to-kill policy.
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ZIM_2020-12_Five poachers gunned down_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 225.37 KB |
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.
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BOT_2020-12_Five white rhinos killed by poachers in November in Botswana_The Star.pdf | 79.96 KB |
The pangolin skin is valued at about N$50 000 while the value and authenticity of the unpolished diamonds is yet to be determined by the police.
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NAM_2020-12_Two in court for alleged illegal diamond trading_The Namibian.pdf | 842.94 KB |
Two men, that attempted to sell seven unpolished diamonds and a pangolin skin, were arrested in Tsumeb during a sting operation earlier this week. The 30-year-old and 50-year-old suspects were apprehended during an undercover operation staged by the Protected Resources Sub Division of the Namibian Police. The Regional Police Commander, Commissioner Armas Shivute said the duo were found with one pangolin skin valued at N$ 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 |
At least 12 elephants have been killed in Tanzania in the past three months in what the country's national parks watchdog has described as a new wave of poaching.
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TAN_2020-12_12 elephants killed in Tanzania by poachers_Africa Sustainable Conservation News.pdf | 112.38 KB |
The suspects belong to an organized ivory trafficking network whose ramifications extend as far as Nigeria. Six suspected ivory traffickers were arrested in early December in the eastern region of Cameroon, in a joint operation by the departmental delegation of the Ministry of Forests and Wildlife and the police. This operation was carried out with technical assistance from LAGA, an NGO specializing in law enforcement on wildlife. Two of the suspects were arrested on December 2 in Bertoua, the regional capital, with four ivory tusks, two of which came from baby…
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CAM_2020-12_The arrest of six presumed traffickers of ivory_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 744.53 KB |
Two teachers and five other people from Muanza district in Sofala province, including a smallholder and a public administration technician, were arrested this weekend while trying to sell two elephant tusks and the skin of a leopard for 44,000 meticais (24,000 for the tusks and 20,000 for leopard skin).
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MOZ_2020-12_Seven arrested on poaching related charges in Sofala_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 673.24 KB |
Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI) has formulated a wildlife protection project setting up a task force project to end ivory poaching and trafficking. It as well would introduce much stronger custodial sentences, if criminals are caught with Illegal Wildlife Trade. Kumera Wakjira, Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority General Director, said that the project is aimed at combatting wildlife crime. Kumera added that the project has set up an Environmental Crime Unit and regional task forces to combat wildlife crime.
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ETH_2020-12_EBI steps up measures to combat poaching_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 773.44 KB |
The trio were arrested following a R50 000 transaction for parts of lions they killed on a private game reserve outside Lephalale.
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SA_2020-12_3 men sentenced in Mokopane for selling lion parts_Review.pdf | 1.17 MB |
KwaZulu-Natal wildlife is "under attack" by illegal hunters across the province says Blessed Gwala, the IFP spokesperson for community safety and liaison. Last week the carcasses of four dehorned rhinos were found in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.
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SA_2020-12_KZN wildlife under siege from illegal hunters_IOL.pdf | 104.59 KB |
Every day about two rhinoceroses are killed in South Africa for their horns. Be it for traditional medical purposes, or to impress friends with gifts such as carved figurines and necklaces, the demand in East Asia is high for rhino horns and wealthy buyers are willing to pay a good price. South Africa, on the other hand, is home to two third of Africa's rhinos while nearly half of the adult population lives in poverty.
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SA_2020-12_NGO Poverty Fuels South African Wildlife Crimes_OCCRP.pdf | 460.93 KB |
Caracals living in Noordhoek wetlands are under siege from all sides, facing considerable threats to their survival. This nocturnal and elusive wild cat native to Africa has become a prime target for ruthless poachers who capture them for bushmeat or sell their body parts on the illegal wildlife black market. Caracals also face increased habitat loss and lack of habitat connectivity.
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SA_2020-12_Caracals under seize from poachers infiltrating Noordhoek Wetlands_Network for Animals.pdf | 962.96 KB |
A suspected rhino poacher has been arrested at Grootfontein, while a Windhoek man has been sentenced to an effective four years in jail for selling pangolin skins or a N$40 000 fine.
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NAM_2020-12_Four years for pangolin trafficking_Namibian Sun.pdf | 282.63 KB |
It's clear why the illegal wildlife trade exists. Where there's consumer demand for products from endangered species, there are bound to be networks seeking to profit from that demand. But what about the motivations of individual offenders? TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade NGO, decided to simply ask them. The researchers interviewed 73 people in South African correctional centers, who had been convicted of crimes related to rhinos, abalone, or cycads (ancient palm-like plants that have been called "the world's most endangered plants").
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SA_2020-12_Convicted poachers in South Africa explain why heavy policing is ineffective_Forbes.pdf | 350.26 KB |
Wilderer auf Farm Clausthal haben acht Oryx-Antilopen geschlachtet Die Wilderei und der Viehdiebstahl in der Umgebung rund um Karibib gerät außer Kontrolle. Dank eines Großeinsatzes einer privaten Antiwildereieinheit konnten jetzt vier mutmaßliche Wilderer gestellt werden, die acht Oryx-Antilopen gejagt hatten. Zwei Männer wurden auf frischer Tat ertappt.
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NAM_2020-12_Wilderei ist ausser Kontrolle_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 399.91 KB |
NAM_2020-12_Poaching is out of control_Allgemeine Zeitung_ENG.pdf | 396.94 KB |
Botswana's former president, Ian Khama, says his country's strategy to enforce a shoot-to-kill approach against Namibians should be seen as a warning to potential poachers. "This sends a message to potential poachers. I personally plead to any who have such intentions to think twice about committing such a crime in our or any country," he says.
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NAM_2020-12_Ex_Botswana president explains shoot to kill_The Namibian.pdf | 1.03 MB |
Ein 27-jähriger Mann, der vermutlich ein Wilderer war, starb am Montag in den frühen Morgenstunden, nachdem er angeblich auf einer Wildfarm in der Nähe von Okakarara, in die Brust geschossen wurde.
A 27-year-old man believed to have been a poacher died early Monday morning after he was allegedly shot in the chest at a game farm near Okakarara
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NAM_2020-12_Mutmasslicher Wilderer erschossen_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 335.6 KB |
NAM_2020-12_Suspected poacher shot_Allgemeine Zeitung_ENG.pdf | 336.84 KB |
Five men, of which three escaped, were caught by the police and anti-poaching units at Karibib in connection with poaching on Friday.
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NAM_2020-12_Poachers caught at Karibib_The Namibian.pdf | 1.21 MB |
'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 |