Mozambique's SERNIC Thwarts Illegal Ivory Trade in Tete Province
Maputo, January 8, 2025 - In a swift operation on Sunday, Mozambique's National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) intercepted an attempt to sell four elephant tusks in Mágoè district, Tete province, signaling a continued fight against the illegal wildlife trade. Celina Roque, the SERNIC spokesperson for Tete, confirmed the arrest of three individuals linked to this illicit scheme. The tusks, weighing a total of 30 kilos, were seized from the residence of one of the detainees, where they were to be sold for 150,000 Meticais, approximately $2,300 USD at the current exchange rate. "The tusks were discovered at the home of one of the suspects. We've apprehended three people, but the mastermind behind this operation is still at large," Roque stated. She added that law enforcement is actively pursuing the fugitive to bring him to justice. One of the arrested individuals, who spoke to reporters, claimed his involvement was limited to taking photographs of the tusks fo...
