2 suspected traffickers netted

Mar 11, 2015

Police have arrested two suspected traffickers in Kampala and recovered 35 hippo teeth and two buffalo horns.

By Gerald Tenywa     

Kira Road Police and the Natural Resources Conservation Network officials have arrested two suspected traffickers in Kampala and recovered 35 hippo teeth and two buffalo horns.


“We arrested two suspects over illegal possession of wildlife trophies,” said Simon Etomet, Assistant Superintendent of Police attached who led the investigations and search team that recovered the trophies on Tuesday.  

Vincent Opyene, the director of Natural Resources Conservation Network, a non-profit organization named the suspects as John Bosco Okello and Pascal Ociba.

He said the duo was netted last week. They were remanded to Luzira Prison. They will appear at City Hall Court on March 12. He said Okello hails from Ogwedo near Packwach in Nebbi district and Ociba was looking for market at the time of arrest at Naguru-Go- Down in Kampala.

“We are going to prosecute them in Court,” said Opyene, adding that Okello is to be charged for being in possession of wildlife trophies without a permit and Ociba will be charged with conspiracy. “If convicted, they will serve a prison term of not less than three months.”

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has appointed the Natural Resources Conservation Network to support the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Police to prosecute wildlife crime.

The group was founded by professionals in investigation on wildlife crime last year and has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).   

The contraband hippo teeth and buffalo horns got to Kampala on February 21 and it is suspected that the hippo teeth were extracted from Murchison Falls National Park. The delta part of the park, according to reports of UWA on illegal activities, Murchison is the worst hit when it comes to poaching.

Hippo teeth is used as substitute for ivory and also exported to mainly China and other Oriental Countries where ivory tools such as chop sticks or bangles are associated with high classes in society.

 

 






 

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