LAGA Deputy Director participated at the experts’ meeting of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership held in Douala.
The entire LAGA team went on annual vacation and end of year activities were carried out. The office reopens in January 2020.
The team visited the tourist resort site of Nkonlandom shortly before going on annual vacation.
This month was marked by the arrest of 2 traffickers with 2 ivory tusks weighing 20kg.
The traffickers belong to an international ivory trafficking network based in Kenzou close to the border between the Central African Republic and Cameroon. One of the traffickers is reported to have been arrested in March 2019 in Yokadouma by the gendarmerie with over 250kg of ivory seized and released without any charges brought against him. Kenzou serves as a collection point for the ivory that generally leaves the CAR and smuggled into Cameroon. An upsurge in ivory trafficking between the town countries has been observed recently.
The Deputy Director participated at the opening ceremony of the Pangolin Rescue and Rehabilitation Center at the Mefou park. This is the first-ever facility dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of pangolins in the country.
Two movie crews; an Italian and a South African movie company, arrived the country to work separately on the illegal trade in pangolins with the LAGA team. They shot scenes and gave interviews to the Deputy Director and the Head of the Investigations Department.
The Deputy Director among nominees for the prestigious Indianapolis prize following the publication of the list of 32 nominees for the world’s leading conservation prize.
The screening of documentary movie Silent Forest began in some African countries; LAGA played a major role in the shooting of the movie in Cameroon.
A legal adviser from EAGLE Senegal arrived in the country for a month-long training and exchange visit.
5 major traffickers arrested with two large ivory tusks found inside a Toyota Prado car.
The son of a former finance minister owner of the car arrested alongside four others in connection with the ivory trafficking.
Interpol intelligence analyst from Singapore alongside two criminal investigations officers from the regional bureau visited the office.
The Media Officer traveled to the US to participate at the Jackson Hole Film festival as a volunteer.
The Head of the Legal Department participated in an international workshop where he presented the strengths and weaknesses of the wildlife law enforcement process in the country.
The Deputy Director held a meeting with the North West Chiefs of Customs Sector on the implementation on the MoU signed with the Customs Department.
The Legal Department followed up several cases among which was the case on the trafficking of ivory 216 ivory tusks with connections to a gendarmerie colonel.
The Deputy Director participated at two workshops were he carried out presentations on the challenges of wildlife law enforcement and the state of pangolin scales trafficking in the country and he had a briefing with a USFWS official who participated at one both workshops.
The Deputy Director accompanied by the Head of Investigation and Legal Departments held a meeting with two Interpol officials to explore areas of collaboration and experience sharing
There were no operations this month and strategies were re-examined to improve on the situation next month.
3 major traffickers arrested during the month with 4 leopard skins
The Deputy Director held a meeting with a team of USAID officials who were visiting the country to discuss the wildlife law enforcement process and governance issues in the country.
An international trafficker arrested with 95kg of illicit pangolin scales in Douala.
He is part of an international network of pangolin scales traffickers along the Douala – Bangui axes.
The implementation of protocol agreement with customs continued as several visits were made to the various customs sectors in the country.
The Assistant Head of the Media and External Relations Department returned to the country following a visit to the US under the International Visitor Leadership Programme.
5 major traffickers arrested during the month with pangolins scales, lion skulls, leopard skin and ivory.
Senior police constable assigned to the Bouba Ndjidda National Park arrested with 5 lion skulls and other wildlife products.
4 traffickers specialized in the trafficking of pangolin scales in the West Region arrested with around 100 kg of pangolin scales.
LAGA assisted Customs in the interrogation and prosecution procedure against a Ghanaian repeat offender arrested with 20 African grey parrots.
The Assistant Head of the Media and External Relations travelled to the US under the States Department International Visitors Leadership Programme.
3 ivory traffickers arrested with 5 fresh ivory tusks and a tail from baby elephants
They were suspected to have recently killed the baby elephants at the Dja Biosphere Reserve.
Legal adviser completed a three-month training at the Durrell Conservation Academy in New Jersey, UK.
4 major international traffickers arrested with 73 ivory tusks of ivory and over of 1.7kg of pangolins scales.
The criminal syndicate had been shipping wildlife contraband to Nigeria before their arrest.
A super volunteer completed a 5-week training programme and returned to Nairobi where his training continues.
LAGA signed a protocol agreement with Customs to fight transboundary wildlife crime. A breakthrough in establishing formal relations with Customs for the EAGLE Network.
2 specialized pangolin scales traffickers arrested in Yaounde with 42kg of pangolin scales.
Legal adviser travelled to Britain for a three-month conservation training programme.
LAGA relocated to a new office.
Total of 7 wildlife traffickers arrested during three operations in Douala in the Littoral Region and in Doume in the East Region
4 traffickers arrested with 54 kg of pangolin scales and 5 hippo teeth in Douala
A pangolin scales trafficker was arrested with 40 kg of scales in Doume
A baby chimp rescued in an arrest operation
