Police in Katavi have arrested two suspects for allegedly being in possession of government trophies valued at more than 30m/- without having proper permits.
Katavi Region Police Commander Mr Dhahiri Kidavashari told the ‘Daily News’ yesterday over the phone from Mpanda Town that the duo were arrested on January 23 at around 12:30 pm at Magamba Village along Mpanda -Sumbawanga Highway in Mpanda Municipality.
The RPC further said that the suspects were caught with an elephant tusk weighing 6.5 kgs (presumably from one live elephant) valued at 30,000,000/- . Mr Kidavashari named the suspects as Kassim Adam (28) from Mtisi Village and Ancet Ibrahim (20) from Matandalani Village. Both villages are in the vicinity of Katavi National Park located in Mlele district in Katavi region.
The RPC further said that a manhunt has been mounted for the third suspect who is still on the run, whose name could not immediately be established.
Narrating the incident, the RPC said that the suspects, apart from being caught with the government trophies, police have seized a motorcycle with Registration Number T 914 PTQ.
“On that material day law enforcers who were on a routine patrol at Magamba Village suspected the trio who were on a single motor bike. They (policemen) stopped them but the suspects jumped off the motor cycle and took to their heels.
Two of them were arrested after a hot but short pursuit ” explained the RPC. According to him, one of the nabbed suspects had a satchel on his back. When opened two pieces of elephant’s tusk were discovered, wrapped in a plastic bag.
According to Mr Kidavashari, the suspects will soon be arraigned in a court of law after thorough preliminary investigation into their case.