Four arrested over leopard skin and ivory trafficking in Congo
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Aci
Four people suspected of trafficking products from protected species were arrested on 18 October in Nkayi and Dolisie, Republic of the Congo, with a leopard skin and two ivory tusks. They are to appear before the Madingou prosecutor and face up to five years in prison and a fine of five million CFA francs, reports the ACI.
Four people suspected of trafficking products from protected species were arrested on 18 October in Nkayi and Dolisie, in the Bouenza and Niari departments of the Republic of the Congo, with a leopard skin and two ivory tusks cut into four pieces, reports the Congolese News Agency. The arrests were carried out by gendarmes and forestry officers, with support from the Wildlife Law Enforcement Support Project.
Three suspects allegedly transported the trophies from Dolisie to Nkayi to sell them. The fourth was reportedly arrested a few hours later, while several accomplices are still on the run, according to the ACI. The four people are to be brought before the public prosecutor at the Madingou High Court.
They are being prosecuted for possessing, transporting and trading leopard and elephant trophies. Congolese law provides for up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of five million CFA francs for these offences, the ACI specifies. The World Wide Fund for Nature’s Living Planet Report 2026 also indicates that monitored wild vertebrate populations in Africa declined by an average of 80% between 1970 and 2022.
