Two Burundian poachers arrested in Tanzania with 25 elephant tusks

Tanzanian police recovered 25 elephant tusks from two Burundian refugees traveling from Katavi to Mwanza by bus, Tanzania's The Guardian reported Thursday (January 15th). Tanzanian police arrest 2 caught with illegal ivory Tanzania tourism minister defends anti-poaching campaign as ivory seized 25 suspected poachers arrested in Kigoma The 42 kilogrammes of ivory are valued at around 148.5 million shillings ($83,000). The two passengers aroused police suspicions when they boarded the bus carrying three large bags. "We were very suspicious with the size of the bags and hence decided to open them," said Katavi Regional Police Commander Dhahiri Kidavashari. "After a search we found the 25 pieces of tusks and decided to take the suspects to Katavi police headquarters where we are still interrogating them. They will be sent to court any time." Tanzania has recently increased its efforts to fight poaching, after the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism launched a five-year initiative in October to fight poaching. An ivory-smuggling 'kingpin' was arrested in Tanzania in December and has since been charged in a Kenyan court. Source: Sabahi Online