Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. December 2010 (Cameroon News) - A sting operation launched by Central African Nations has cracked down a smuggling racket that operates internationally.
Sting operations that was planned and executed by a group wildlife enthusiasts based out of Central Africa have found their way into cracking up organized smuggling rackets which operate on international circles.
CAMEROON WILDLIFE PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES: INTERNATIONAL SMUGGLING RING CRACKED IN STING OPERATION
These rackets allegedly capture endangered species of wildlife and then smuggle them overseas in huge cages.
The operation has resulted in the detention of the major leaders of this highly organized racket and also involves some of the major dealers.
The operation that happened in Cameroon, Gabon, the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo closed down on the whole racket.
Spectators said that the whole series of arrests that happened last week was totally managed by the Last Great Ape Organization (LAGA), a wildlife law-enforcement non-government organization.
The operations have taken a landmark step towards region based conformance as well as adherence to the regulations that are aimed at conserving those wildlife species that are fast nearing extinction.
“This is the first time we have experienced such a regional crackdown,” said Mr Ofir Drori, the founder of LAGA.
“These co-ordinate arrests in four neighboring countries are a warning to the international trafficking rings – no longer can you hide on the other side of a border.”
In Gabon, undercover agents who pretended to be smugglers closed in on over 16 dealers who held possession of over 150kg of polished ivory which they had secured illegally.
The entire loot, expected to be priced at around £90,000 ($186,092) is assumed to have been bound for China, and was being dispatched via Nigeria. In Cameroon, three dealers holding around 17 turtle shells were also detained.
A haul of 1,000 African grey parrots, which is estimated to cost around £65,000, was also seized while on their way to Nigeria.
The operation that took place in the Central African Republic seized seven leopard skins, two lion skins and two tusks which were hidden beneath cow hides in a dealer’s truck. Yet another haul of 30kg of ivory was taken into custody in Ouesso in the north of Congo-Brazzaville.
