Port-Gentil, October 27, 2023 (AGP) – Less than two weeks after the arrest of an alleged ivory trafficker in Libreville, it is the turn of Port-Gentil, capital of the Ogooué province -maritime, to record a case of ivory trafficking.
A joint operation, carried out by agents of the General Directorate of Research (DGR) of Ogooué-Martime and the Water and Forests administration, supported by the NGO Conservation Justice, led to the arrest of an alleged trafficker of ivory last Wednesday October 25 and Thursday October 26, in Port-Gentil.
During the operation, DGR agents saw a taxi vehicle entering the courtyard of a local hotel. On board, a young man, in his late thirties, will get out of the vehicle with a travel bag in hand. After asking the taxi driver to wait for him, the alleged trafficker settled peacefully in a hotel room.
The DGR agents burst into the room and noticed that the half-opened bag, placed in front of the young man, contained two large, whole ivory points.
When arrested and then questioned on this, the individual admitted to having taken the two ivory points to the hotel room with the aim of selling them. However, he will claim not to be the owner of said objects. He will designate another individual as the true owner of the ivories.
After another operation, the famous owner will also be arrested in Port-Gentil the next day, that is to say Thursday October 26, 2023.
The two alleged ivory traffickers are currently being held in custody in the premises of the DGR in Port-Gentil, pending further proceedings. He risks a prison sentence of 10 years, in accordance with articles 390 and 398 of the new penal code.
ANM/FSS
