News
2 traffickers arrested with a cheetah skin and a leopard skin
Uganda, 23 Aug 20172 traffickers arrested with a cheetah skin and a leopard skin near the Kenya border. They have been trafficking wildlife contraband for several years. The first one was arrested in the act when he tried to sell the cheetah, leopard and 3 python skins. His fellow trafficker was arrested later in his house with 3 more python skins. There are less than 6,800 cheetahs left in the world making it the most endangered feline on the continent. There are less than 30 cheetahs left in Uganda, making this a very meaningful arrest operation.
2 international traffickers arrested with 780 carved ivory items
Senegal, 22 Aug 20172 significant international traffickers arrested in Dakar in two back-to-back operations seizing 780 carved ivory items. They both were arrested in their shops, where they were selling crafts and art, using it as a cover for their illegal activities. Charlotte, the WARA director, led the team in the double-operation with the Senegalese authorities in a dangerous area, and Cecile, the country coordinator, played a crucial role in this crackdown. The traffickers had been also active in Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Burundi and dealt directly with Chinese nationals. The seizure represents a mere snapshot of their international illegal trading. More hippo, warthog and lion teeth were also seized.
5 traffickers arrested with 10 tusks
Uganda, 18 Aug 20175 traffickers, one of them a pastor, arrested in western Uganda with 10 tusks in two back-to-back operations. First two traffickers were arrested with 6 tusks when their car was intercepted at a road check. The third one was arrested while waiting for them in a lodge to get his share of the money. Two other traffickers were arrested soon after in a similar manner.
A trafficker arrested with 215 hippo teeth
Uganda, 18 Aug 2017A trafficker arrested in western Uganda with 215 hippo teeth on the same day. The team continued straight from last operation to this one clamping down on cross-border trafficking with DRC. The trafficker is connected to an army major already arrested a while back. At least 20 hippos were massacred for this single seizure.
2 traffickers arrested with 2 tusks
Uganda, 12 Aug 20172 traffickers arrested with large 2 tusks in western Uganda. One of them is an English teacher at a primary school, so the traffickers were using the school to conceal the contraband, similarly to the last operation in Ivory Coast. They were arrested at the school where they intended to sell it.
2 ivory traffickers arrested with 14 tusks
Benin, 11 Aug 20172 ivory traffickers arrested with 14 tusks. They were arrested in the act with the contraband concealed in a plastic bag. They used to traffic ivory for many years, supplying surrounding countries including Burkina Faso. One of the traffickers is a repeat offender, already arrested for bushmeat trafficking in 2014.
2 ivory traffickers arrested with 4 tusks
Uganda, 9 Aug 20172 ivory traffickers arrested in Kampala with 4 tusks. One of them is an owner of a shop and a manager of a lodge, the other one an employee of another lodge. They were arrested in the act when they were trying to sell the contraband concealed in a bag.
3 ivory traffickers arrested with 2 tusks
Gabon, 1 Aug 20173 ivory traffickers arrested in the capital city. The first two are brothers and were arrested in the act, trying to sell 2 elephant tusks, cut in 4 pieces. They admitted to taking ivory from their uncle who works with them. He is an elephant poacher. He was arrested two days later.
An ivory trafficker arrested with 26kg of ivory
Uganda, 27 Jul 2017An ivory trafficker arrested with 26kg of ivory in the west of the country. She had been involved in trafficking together with her husband for years, using their restaurant as a safe place for their illegal business. She was arrested in the act when she attempted to sell the ivory.
8 traffickers arrested and 3 tons of pangolin scales seized
Ivory Coast, 26 Jul 20178 traffickers arrested and 3 tons of pangolin scales seized in a crackdown on an international trafficking network. The team, lead by the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, collaborated with the Ivorian forces on this action, carried out together with several other EAGLE teams from other countries. The young team showed high level of performance giving more hope for the fast development of our latest replication. Investigation continues on international links with at least 6 other countries including China. Some of the contraband was concealed in a primary school with the logic that such an innocent location would never be searched. Thousands of pangolins had to be killed for this shipment alone, and this criminal network was regularly carrying such a magnitude of pangolins' slaughter.
An ivory trafficker arrested with 33 kg ivory
Uganda, 24 Jul 2017An ivory trafficker arrested with over 33 kg ivory in West of the country. After several Christian priests arrested, the team got a member of the Illuminate cult. He was regularly trafficking ivory, supplied to him by a corrupt official of UWA. He was already arrested twice for trafficking in wildlife. In 2015 he was arrested and convicted for ivory trafficking, and the same year for providing a hyena liver which was intended to reportedly poison some high ranking government officials.
A trafficker arrested with 38 hippo teeth
Uganda, 21 Jul 2017A trafficker arrested with 38 hippo teeth in Kampala. A businessman, dealing in art and craft was arrested in the act during an attempt to sell the hippo teeth concealed in a box. He has trafficked them from Queen Elisabeth National Park, where hippos are still massacred for the teeth, which are used as s substitute for elephant ivory.
