Three people nabbed over poaching

By George Marato

18th June 2010


Police in Tarime have apprehended three people for allegedly possessing 500 kilogrammess of poached wild meat, believed to be originating from the Serengeti National Park.

Tarime/Rorya special zone police commander Constantine Massawe named the suspects at a media briefing as Dickison Opody (32), a resident of Utegi in Rorya District, Marwa Mwita Robhi (30) from Magu District in Mwanza Region, and a vehicle driver Haji Mushi Haji (23).

The special zone police chief claimed that the law-enforcers were certain that the wild meat found with the suspected poachers came from the animals hunted in game reserves and the Serengeti, in Mara Region.

According to him, the meat was obtained from animals, which were gunned down by poachers illegally.

He said the poachers were found with the wild meat on June 14, this year, at Mrito village.

“The police were tipped off by good people and when they followed up, they managed to arrest the suspects,” said the police commander.

Massawe said after getting information about poachers wanting to transport wild meat for sale in neighbouring Kenya, the police set up a trap in the village.

“And shortly thereafter we arrested the suspects, who were aboard a vehicle with registration number T 877 AUB,” he said.

Massawe said the three suspected poachers would be sent to court soon.

Commenting on the catch, Tarime district wildlife officer Laboson Magoti said the poachers obtained the 500 kilogrammes of meat after killing a lot of wild animals.

The arrest of the three poachers comes just few weeks after President Jakaya Kikwete had received black rhinos from South Africa, and called for maximum protection of wildlife against poachers.


SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN