According to SIC spokesperson, Manuel Halaiwa, the accused were caught red-handed in possession of four ivory trophies, for sale.
Manuel Halaiwa said that 104 pieces of already worked ivory were also seized at the same location, presumably from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The official highlighted that the four trophies, allegedly taken from adult elephants, sold by poachers in the province of Cuando Cubango, weigh 133 kilos.
“These individuals have purchased, from the hands of these hunters, at the informal market price of 70 thousand kwanzas per kilogram and, in search of easy profit, end up reselling to intermediaries at the price of 200 thousand kwanzas”, he said.
The SIC spokesperson highlighted that the elephant is on Angola's red list and is a species protected by the International Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The detainees will be presented to the Public Prosecutor's Office and then to the judge of guarantees, for the application of a coercive measure corresponding to the acts charged.
“This is the second case in November, we already had another case on the 13th, two other individuals were also arrested for ivory trafficking, that is, they were in possession of two trophies, weighing approximately 24 [kilos] and have already been presented to the Public Ministry and guarantee judge, with bail being applied”, he stressed.
