The Botswana Defence Force has confirmed that on 31 May 2026, its patrol team encountered a suspected poaching syndicate in the general area of Linyanti. Confirming the incident, BDF Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Fana Maswabi revealed that the poachers managed to evade arrest fleeing across the International Boundary. He stated that a subsequent search of the scene led to the recovery of several items, including 20 elephant tusks. According to him, the recovered items have since been handed over to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and the Botswana Police Service, who will lead further investigations into the incident. Maswabi noted that the incident underscores the ongoing threat posed by organised poaching networks and highlights the importance of coordinate efforts by the BDF, other security forces and conservation agencies in protecting Botswana's wildlife heritage.