Police in Botswana have launched a manhunt for a Zambian national who bolted from a checkpoint and abandoned a Mercedes Benz laden with 13 elephant tusks.
The incident happened at the Ngwasha Veterinary checkpoint near the north-central town of Nata village on June 7. The motorist, suspected to be a Zambian poacher, had just been flagged down for a routine search of his vehicle when he bolted into the bush.
Superintendent Vincent Pitseetsile of Nata Police Station said the suspect was driving from the general direction of Maun and going towards Kasane, which lies on Botswana northern border with Zambia.
The suspect, who was driving a Mercedes Benz with Zambian registration plates, disembarked from the car under the pretext of helping the police open the car boot.
Upon searching the car, the police found 13 elephant tusks inside the boot, and it is believed that the suspect intended to smuggle the contraband to Zambia.
“We are still pursuing the matter. I am yet to receive the details of the driver’s license which the suspect abandoned in police custody. Investigations are underway,” said Pitseetsile.
Police at the checkpoint did not trail the suspect because the local forest is infested with dangerous wild animals that include elephants, lions, buffalo and leopard.
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/suspected-zambian-poacher-abandons-13-elephant-tusks-police-nkala/
The incident happened at the Ngwasha Veterinary checkpoint near the north-central town of Nata village on June 7. The motorist, suspected to be a Zambian poacher, had just been flagged down for a routine search of his vehicle when he bolted into the bush.
Superintendent Vincent Pitseetsile of Nata Police Station said the suspect was driving from the general direction of Maun and going towards Kasane, which lies on Botswana northern border with Zambia.
The suspect, who was driving a Mercedes Benz with Zambian registration plates, disembarked from the car under the pretext of helping the police open the car boot.
Upon searching the car, the police found 13 elephant tusks inside the boot, and it is believed that the suspect intended to smuggle the contraband to Zambia.
“We are still pursuing the matter. I am yet to receive the details of the driver’s license which the suspect abandoned in police custody. Investigations are underway,” said Pitseetsile.
Police at the checkpoint did not trail the suspect because the local forest is infested with dangerous wild animals that include elephants, lions, buffalo and leopard.
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/suspected-zambian-poacher-abandons-13-elephant-tusks-police-nkala/
