Mozambican police announced Tuesday in Beira, central Mozambique, that they had arrested two people who were in possession of ivory elephant teeth weighing a total of 16 kilograms, which they intended to sell.
“Two citizens of Mozambican nationality were arrested at a crime scene in Dondo district in possession of four pieces of horns, believed to be elephant horns,” Jessie Makamo, a spokeswoman for the Criminal Investigation Service (Sernik), told reporters in Sofala province.
Macamo said the two suspects were arrested while carrying ivory on a public passenger transport heading to the city of Beira to be sold to an Asian citizen for 5,000 metikay (€75) per kilogram.
To facilitate loading of the ivory resulting from the killing of the elephant, the accused divided it into four pieces and wrapped them in a plastic bag inside a backpack, he added.
Police also said that the mammal killed by poachers belonged to the Marromeu National Reserve in Sofala province.
“A case has already been filed against them and they are now undergoing legal procedures with the Mozambican justice authorities. They are accused of killing and selling prohibited species of animals,” concluded Jessie Makamo.