Police apprehend Solwezi-bound bus with 26 pieces of suspected elephant tusks, arrest man

Police in Solwezi of North Western Province has recovered 26 pieces of suspected elephant tusks and apprehended one suspect in connection with the same.

Godfrey Chilabi, the Police Assistant Public Relations in a statement issued on Sunday in Lusaka said this occurred on June 17, 2023, at around 16:00 hours at the Mutanda Police security checkpoint.

Chilabi said a brief account of the incident is that alert Police officers manning the checkpoint intercepted a Lukumo bus with the registration number ACZ 01.

He said the bus was en-route from Mongu to Solwezi with passengers on board.

“During a thorough search of the bus, officers discovered four wrapped boxes containing pieces of suspected ivory tusks. The owner of the contraband fled the scene but was later apprehended in Solwezi town,” Chilabi said.

He said the suspect has been identified as Kabanga Mutombo, a 45-year-old resident of Nangweshi in Sioma District, believed to be a Congolese national.

“The suspect has since been handed over to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife officers for further investigations,” Chilabi said.

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