http://www.arushatimes.co.tz/Court.html


Link has photo of trophies.



wwww. arushatimes.co.tz

issn 0856 - 9135

Issue No. 0745:

January 12 - 18, 2013



Police seize government trophies at Kisongo

By Happy Lazaro


Police in Arusha Region have seized various government trophies found stored in a warehouse in Mateves Village in Kisongo Area which are believed were to be exported to an unknown destination.

The trophies included skins of lion, leopard, crocodile; elephant tusks, heads of baboons, antelopes and buffaloes; horns of rhinoceros and many others which the police were continuing to identify.

The police have also arrested one suspect identified by the name of Peter Laurence (55),a resident of Ngaramtoni ya Chini who had packed the trophies in 20 cartons and stored them in his house.



According to the Arusha Regional Police Commander, Mr. Liberatus Sabas, the incident occurred on January 7, this year at 12:30 p.m. after a tip off from civilians.

He said that following the information, on January 7, this year at 11:00 a.m. watchmen who were guarding the area did not co-operative with the police to reveal how the owner of the house could be found.

However, he said that the police decided to arrest one guard so that he could help them with the information. The guard then revealed the suspect’s telephone number and was at Magugu in Babati District, Manyara Region. He was expected to return at 06:00 p.m.


After the suspect had arrived, the inspection of the house was started under armed policemen. They found a consignment of trophies packed in containers ready for shipment to an unknown destination.

Police guarded the house until dawn while the suspect and his two guards were put under police custody.

The suspects were still under custody and would be taken to court after police investigations of the matter are completed.

quote:

However, he said that the police decided to arrest one guard so that he could help them with the information. The guard then revealed the suspect’s telephone number and was at Magugu in Babati District, Manyara Region. He was expected to return at 06:00 p.m.

You vil ansah all de questions, or, it vil not go vel wit you! HHmmnn Ja!

Photographs of the trophies, the packing material used to pack the individual skulls, etc. and the crates somehow suggest a different tale.

In the eyes of the uninformed and naive public the photos show a whole bunch of loosely termed "government trophies" but to someone who is in the industry, the trophies typically resemble them as the skulls and horns taken by a hunting safari client.
The treatment to the skulls, packing material and crate design all resemble the processes required by international laws and should the authorities "stumble" into the warehouse or store of any hunting outfitter, they would find the exact same scene.
The bit about rhino horns however (which never appeared in any photo) is IMO an add-on to give the story a little more spice.
January is also a very common month for the processing of trophies for export to the various owners so the "bust" took place at a most appropriate time.
The results of investigations however will confirm the truth.

Peter Laurance is a well known Trophy exporters and handles many trophies for different companies.... What a shame on the Tanzanian Police Force.

Indeed, and it is said he does a fine job in the preparation of trophies that quite a few pass their trophies to him for bleaching, dipping, etc.
Am as curious as anyone else to see how this story unfolds.

Amazingly there was No Game Scout or Anti-Poaching Unit at the time of the Raid...Only Cops and Media.