61122E – IVORY TUSKS SEIZED IN TETE

61122E – IVORY TUSKS SEIZED IN TETE

Maputo, 2 Nov (AIM) – Mozambique’s National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) on Monday announced the arrests of three alleged poachers, in Chifunde district, in the western province of Tete.

The three were in possession of four elephant tusks. This brings to 15 the number of tusks seized in Tete in less than a fortnight. Seven people have been arrested in connection with the ivory.

Among those detained are two teachers, one of whom is the educational director of a local secondary school.

The three men arrested in Chifunde told reporters “We can’t deny it. We were caught red-handed in the possession of four tusks when we were looking for clients”.

They claimed they had received the tusks from Malawian and Zambian citizens, who were trying to sell the ivory in Chifunde. They intended to sell each tusk for 7,500 meticais (about 117 US dollars, at current exchange rates).
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