Namibian Ministry Reports Significant Confiscation of Pangolin Skins and Arrests
Windhoek – The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) in Namibia has reported the confiscation of a significant number of pangolin skins, live pangolins, and scales between September and November of this year. According to the ministry’s spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, who issued a press statement on Monday, a total of 18 pangolin skins, 12 live pangolins, and 146 pangolin scales were seized during this period, leading to 23 criminal cases and the arrest of 38 suspects.
According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), Muyunda revealed that the confiscated items and arrests exceeded the numbers for elephant and rhino poaching combined during the same period. The majority of these cases were recorded in the northern regions of Namibia, with Kavango West leading in the number of cases. Other regions, including Kavango East, Ohangwena, Oshana, and Zambezi, each registered three cases, while the central regions cumulatively had four cases, and Kunene region registered one.
Prior to September, from January to August 2023, there had been only six live pangolins recovered and 19 skins confiscated. Including the registered crimes, the total number of pangolins poached this year, including live animals, skins, and scales, amounts to 50, with an additional two fetuses miscarried by live confiscated female pangolins. Muyunda expressed concern over the increasing number of crimes involving pangolins, despite being pleased with the arrests made.
He reiterated that trafficking in wildlife, particularly pangolins, is a serious offense in Namibia, warning of strict legal consequences for such crimes. The heaviest sentence recorded for trafficking pangolins or their parts in Namibia is nine years of direct imprisonment, with the heaviest fine being N.dollars 800,000. Pangolins are protected under Namibian law, with penalties for possession reaching up to 15 years imprisonment and a fine of up to N.dollars 15,000,000. Trafficking or sale of pangolins can lead to a sentence of up to 25 years imprisonment and a fine of N.dollars 25,000,000.