LILONGWE: The police in Lilongwe on Monday arrested Robin Chioshya, 37, and Wally Ghambi, 41, for allegedly being found with two tusks of ivory weighing 6.5 kilos valued at MK9, 750,000.
Lilongwe Police Public Relations Officer Kingsley Dandaula said an officer from the National Police Headquarters arrested the suspects at Chitedze agricultural research station.
“Police received a tip off from well-wishers that the suspects were in possession of raw ivory. They mobilized a team of officers from the police and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife that made a follow up on the issue,” said Dandaula.
He further said an undercover officer who acted as a buyer went to the house of Ghambi where the two suspects were rounded up. They were arrested and the tusks confiscated.
The police spokesperson added that the suspects are expected to appear before court soon to answer to charges of being found in illegal possession of protected species.
Robin Chioshya hails from Thomas Village, Traditional Authority Siphasi in Mchinji district, while Wally Ghambi comes from Mwenikuti Village, Traditional Authority Mwaulambia in Chitipa.
On December 30 last year, the government of China issued a ban on illegal ivory trading and processing which has been hailed globally as a monumental step on the path to saving elephants from extinction.
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