14 DAY TRIAL // Four smugglers have put their freedom at risk while trying to obtain more than a decent profit by selling 100 kilograms of elephant ivory on the black market.
They decided to carry the goods using a truck that was transporting cocoa. Their ingenious plan failed; since Cameroon authorities managed to seize the large amount of elephant ivory and take the people involved in this illegal activity into custody, WWF informs.
The event took place in Southeast Cameroon, in the vicinity of the boarders with Congo and Central African Republic.
What wildlife offenders didn't know is that this country has efficient regulations aiming to protect the vulnerable elephants by discouraging poaching operations and illegal ivory trade.
Moreover, authorities say that their disguise wasn't even original, since it is the second time this year when a group of people tries to deliver a significant amount of ivory tusks while relying on trucks transporting cocoa.
“In February a truck transporting 300 bags of cocoa and 20 ivory tusks was impounded in Ntam, southwest of Nki National Park,” reveals Nzooh Zacharie, WWF’s project manager in Lobéké.
At that point in time, the offenders were put behind bars for six months.
It seems that their story is not discouraging other people willing to toy with the fate of endangered creatures to obtain financial advantages. Since the beginning of this year, 65 people have been arrested so far under similar charges.
Moreover, in September, authorities say they have captured a notorious poacher admitting he killed no less than 70 elephants in the region.
Most of the authorized voices state that Cameron's current legal framework is not powerful enough to curb this alarming phenomenon and suggest extra measures of precaution should be drawn up.
“We believe ivory trafficking would be significantly reduced if Cameroon’s judiciary applies sanctions as laid down by the law. The soft sentences so far handed out to poachers by the courts have not helped MINFOF’s efforts to deter poachers,” notes David Hoyle, WWF Cameroon Conservation Director.