The suspected poachers face sentences ranging from three to six months imprisonment. PHOTO credit: Koaci.com

Fourteen Chinese nationals have been arrested for poaching at a wild life reserve in Makokou, capital of Ougooué-Ivindo province, northeast of Gabon.

The men were arrested by agents of the National Agency for National Parks following a tip-off from a security official, as they ate roasted elephant trunk for breakfast.

After searching their home, officials also found pieces of ivory, elephant meat, antelope horns and pangolin scales, species fully protected by law in the country.

The suspected poachers face sentences ranging from three to six months imprisonment and fines of 100,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA (200-2000 USD) as reported by Koaci.com

According to statistics from the National Agency for National Parks, Gabon has lost more than 10,000 forest elephants in 10 years due to poaching.

Illegal activities by Chinese workers in Africa have been on the rise in recent times. Some few months ago, thousands of Chinese Nationals in Ghana were repatriated for involving in illegal gold mining.

Source: ExposeGhana – 14 Chinese Men Arrested For Poaching

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Categories: Crime & Corruption

Tags: Africa, African forest elephant, CFA franc, China, Elephant, Gabon, Ghana, Makokou, Poaching