300 nabbed for wildlife crimes in 2020
A total of 304 suspects were arrested for wildlife crimes of high-value species in 2020, the environment ministry annual report indicated.
Statistics in the report released Friday show that the suspects were arrested for a total of 113 crimes of high-value species such as pangolin, rhino and elephants.
It revealed that of the wildlife crime cases registered, 59 were related to pangolin, 33 to elephants and 25 for rhino poaching, while seven cases were of conspiracy to rhino poaching. The report said 103 suspects were arrested for pangolin poaching or trafficking, 64 for elephant and 145 for rhino poaching, as well as 46 for pre-emptive arrests related to rhino poaching.
“The individual totals for pangolin, elephant and rhino cases registered and suspects arrested add up to more than the totals in the cases registered and suspects arrested categories because a number of cases and arrests involved more than one of the species,” it explained.
It also noted the high-value wildlife products seized were eight live pangolins, 66 pangolin skin, 62 elephant tusks and 21 rhino horns.
The ministry noted that data is aggregated from all parts of the country resulting in some cases being incorporated after the publication of the report, however, the database provides “superb analytical capabilities”, such as identifying links between known suspects, firearms, crime scenes and wildlife carcasses.
It further said the report’s data helps investigators to focus their attention on priority areas, cases and suspects and thus enables optimal use of limited resources.
For all the cases registered, the arrests or seizures were made by a combination of law enforcement agencies – the Namibian Police, environment ministry rangers, Namibian Defence Force, Blue Rhino Task Team and Anti-Poaching Units.