Two engineers alongside two other suspects are to appear in the Ebolowa Court of First Instance in the South Region of Cameroon on Friday, August 23 to answer to charges brought against them. They were found in illegal possession of four elephant tusks.
The suspected traffickers including a forestry engineer, an electro-mechanical engineer a government secondary school teacher and one other, were arrested on July 23. Their arrest is fruit of a crackdown operation carried out by wildlife officials of the South Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife in collaboration with the South Regional Division of Judicial Police.
The case was first heard by the same court on July 26, and was later adjourned to August 23 by the presiding judge for the presentation of all parties and arguments. LAGA, a Wildlife law enforcement support body is assisting officials in the legal procedure.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an estimated 6,830 elephants live in the country making it one of the largest elephant populations left in Africa as stated by elephant conservation groups. However, this population is fast decreasing as a result of poaching due to the surge in demand for ivory in the East most especially, from China which continues to fuel the illicit trade of elephant tusks.
Elephants are totally protected in the country and despite the ban on the trade of ivory, elephants are still being killed. The four may face an imprisonment terms of up to three years and or pay a fine of up to FCFA 10 million ($17,000) if found guilty according to the provisions of the 1994 wildlife law.
A new law promulgated on July 24, 2024 by the President of the Republic, provides more severe punishment for such offense. Article 173 of this law provides a prison sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of up to FCFA 50 million ($85,000).
