The Intervention Brigade of the Judicial Police arrested last Wednesday at Nombakélé, near the Marché Artisanal, KOITA Alassane and YATTASSAYE Ali, both Malians and sellers at the craft market and NDONG Chancel Cedric, a Gabonese sculptor in possession of two elephant tusks.
These three gentlemen were caught in the act of cutting the ivory. Two (2) tusks weighing respectively 14.2 kg and 12.5 kg for a total weight of 26.7 kg and a balance were seized.
On the official report on the premises of the judicial police, Ali YATTASSAYE and KOITA Alassane admitted having bought the two defenses for 600 000 FCFA and enlisted the help of Mr. Cédric Chancel NDONG to cut it into pieces in order to sell them.
Trafficking of species continues to thrive despite efforts by the authorities. The craft market is proving to be a major focus of wildlife products traffic because in four years, at least three operations helped to seize large quantities of products of carved ivory, bags crocodile skins, belts of animal skins, etc.
The Judicial Police demonstrates once again that it is also committed to fighting on the ground against wildlife crime, having made numerous arrests of major traffickers in Libreville and the rest of the country.