Wednesday, February 10, 2010

November 09, 2009 17:26 PM

Up To 200 Kg Ivory Seized In Northeast Gabon

LIBREVILLE, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- Up to 200 kg of ivory were recently seized in Gabon's northeastern province of Ogooue-Ivindo from a Gabonese national attempting to transport the contraband to the capital Libreville, China's Xinhua news agency said citing a local media reports Sunday.

The ivory was put in six sacks and concealed in a lorry ferrying timber destined for Libreville. The suspected trafficker was identified as Molore Obiang-Odoume, and the lorry driver, Lamine Kone from Cote d'Ivoire. They were arrested and taken to Makokou prison for trafficking ivory.

The ivory had been bought from poor farmers who had killed a number of elephants just to get the tusks being sought after by jewellers, the reports said.

The hunt of elephants is strictly prohibited in Gabon, but there are still poachers taking risks in search for illegal profits.

-- BERNAMA

We provide (subscription-based) 
news coverage in our Newswire service.