Man arrested in Dowa for possessing ivory

Police in Dowa District have arrested a 33-year-old man for alleged illegal possession of two pieces of ivory weighing 4.2 kilogrammes.

Dowa Police Station spokesperson Richard Kaponda said in an interview police arrested Enock Chakalamba of Tiferazina Village, Traditional Authority Chiwere in the district on February 23 2019 at Kanyenyeva area in Mvera.

He said the law enforcers were tipped off that the suspect was offering ivory for sale and set him up by using a certain person to pose as a buyer.

Kaponda said the informant, together with wildlife officers and police Criminal Investigations Department officers from Mvera launched a joint operation leading to the arrest of Chakalamba while his accomplice ran away.

Meanwhile, the suspect has been charged with illegal possession of ivory, contrary to Section 86 (1) (110 b) of National Parks Act and Wildlife Act.

Kaponda said police are still hunting for the other suspect.

Cases of illegal possession of ivory have been on the rise in recent past.