34 Traffickers Arrested Across Five African Countries in Major Wildlife Crackdown
In a significant move against wildlife trafficking, 34 individuals have been arrested across five African nations during the first half of this year. The operations were executed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo, and Cameroon, under the collaborative efforts of local governments and the EAGLE network, which supports wildlife officials in enforcing wildlife laws.
The arrested traffickers were caught in the act of trading in parts of protected species, including leopard skins, elephant tusks, and even live hyenas. Notably, 16 leopard skins were seized in operations conducted in Ivory Coast, Congo, and Senegal, leading to the apprehension of at least 22 traffickers. Additionally, nine individuals were arrested for ivory trafficking, with over 21 kg of elephant tusks—equivalent to nine tusks—confiscated.
In one notable incident, three traffickers were apprehended in Congo while trying to transport leopard skins hidden in a backpack inside a cab. During interrogation, they revealed the identity of a third accomplice, who was arrested shortly thereafter.
Senegal witnessed a series of swift operations resulting in the arrest of eight more leopard traffickers, who were found with four leopard skins and one hyena skin. In these back-to-back operations, three traffickers were caught with two leopard skins concealed in a military backpack as they arrived on a motorbike to finalize a sale. Just two hours later, two more were apprehended while attempting to sell a leopard skin packaged in a plastic bag hidden within a grain sack. An hour later, another set of traffickers, including a suspect possibly linked to a local terrorist group, was arrested with a leopard skin and a hyena skin.
The illegal wildlife trade in Africa is a pressing issue, contributing significantly to species extinction. Conservationists argue that the ongoing trafficking crisis threatens the continent's biodiversity. According to Interpol, a staggering 70% of Africa’s wildlife has disappeared in the last 30 years.
Ofir Drori, founder of Eco Activists for Governance and Law Enforcement (EAGLE), stated, “From fighting the trafficking networks on the ground, I can say we see no signs of decline whatsoever, and rather a continued increase in levels of trafficking.” The sophistication of criminal networks poses a substantial challenge to effective enforcement efforts.
The EAGLE network, comprising various NGOs, including LAGA, collaborates with multiple African governments to enhance the enforcement of wildlife laws. Active in countries such as Cameroon, Congo, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo, and Uganda, the network's efforts have led to the arrest of 90 traffickers last year alone, emphasizing the importance of continued vigilance and cooperation in the fight against wildlife crime.
Source : LAGA