Three anti-poaching security personnel on a private farm in the Outjo district were arrested over the long weekend for allegedly supplying rhino horns to suspects arrested at the Outjo-Otavi road block.
A press statement issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Environment (MEFT) on Thursday said the suspects, both Namibians, were arrested by a Namibian Police Force (NamPol)-led operation on 07 April 2023.
Meanwhile, two suspects were arrested on 06 April 2023 at a mobile NamPol road block on the Tsumeb-Otavi road for allegedly being found in possession of two fresh rhino horns.
The suspects, Namibian Sakaria Johannes and Angolan Tomas Domingos were suspected to have illegally entered the Etosha National Park to hunt rhinos, prior to their arrest.
The statement revealed the suspects appeared in court on Tuesday and were denied bail. Their case was postponed to 07 July 2023.
It said further investigation in this case led to the discovery of a fresh carcass in the national park, as well as a 375-calibre rifle, a silencer and 29 live ammunition.
The statement continues that two more old carcasses were discovered in the Etosha National Park, believed to have been poached, noting that however currently there is no indication linking the two old carcasses to the two suspects.
“The work of the law enforcement agencies involved in these arrests is commendable and worthy of praise. We encourage them to continue in the same spirit to ensure that those plundering our resources for their selfish gains are brought to face justice,” it said.
The ministry calls on members of the public to reject and condemn poaching in society by reporting suspected incidents to NamPol or MEFT.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency