Suspects nabbed and wildlife contraband seized during LATF/ZAWA sting operation

In January 2011, the Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF) and the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) conducted a joint law enforcement operation code named ‘Western Mansion” in Lusaka which extended to the Southern and Western provinces of Zambia in towns of Gweembe and Sesheke.

The five-day operation which mobilized 12 officers from ZAWA, Zambia Police Service, Enforcement Commission and under LATF’s co-ordination, was carried out from 20th of January 2011. The operation resulted in the arrest of two suspects and recovery of 47kg of bushmeat, 56kg of semi-worked elephant tusks and 48 live leopard tortoises. During the operation, the team also collected vital intelligence that will be used in future operations. The suspects have been arraigned in Court of Law for prosecution. This is a result of an effective national interagency collaboration and co-ordination led by the Lusaka Agreement Task Force.

The Director of the Lusaka Agreement Task Force congratulates the operational team and the Zambia Wildlife Authority as well as the other national collaborating agencies for this achievement and encourages all the National Bureaus of the member states to the Lusaka Agreement to continue working with the same zeal in fighting wildlife crime in Africa.