Tanzanian gov't charges six people with ivory smuggling
Xinhua, November 17, 2016 Adjust font size:
The government of Tanzania on Wednesday charged six people with smuggling of ivory worth more than 400,000 US dollars.
One of the accused persons identified as Yusuf Ali Yusuf alias Mpemba was recently described by the east African nation's President John Magufuli as the ivory smuggling kingpin.
Others who appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam included five businessmen and a driver.
State Attorney Paul Kadushi, for the prosecution, told Resident Magistrate Thomas Simba that investigations into the case have been completed.
He said the prosecution was in the process of transferring the case to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Court, a special court established by President Magufuli in July to deal with corruption and organized crime cases.
Kadushi told the court that the six accused persons were on diverse dates, between January 2014 and October 2016, found in illegal possession and selling ivory valued at more than 400,000 US dollars.
"They conducted their unlawful businesses in Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Iringa, Tanga and Mtwara regions," the lawyer told the court.
According to a census conducted in 2015, the elephant population in Tanzania shrank from 110,000 in 2009 to around 43,000 in 2014. Also, Rhinos are said to be on the verge of extinction. Endit