🇬🇦GabonCentral Africa
Four individuals sentenced for illegal ivory trafficking in Gabon
via Gabon Review2 min read
Four Gabonese nationals, including one woman, were sentenced on June 5, 2026, by the specialized division of the Libreville Court of First Instance for illegal possession and attempted sale of elephant tusks. The arrests occurred on April 25, 2026, in Mitzic, Woleu-Ntem province, during an operation by agents from the Provincial Directorate of Water and Forests and the local Judicial Police, supported by the NGO Conservation Justice. The three main defendants each received a sentence of twelve months in prison, six months of which were suspended, and a fine of 1.76 million CFA francs. The fourth defendant, a woman found guilty of complicity, was sentenced to six months in prison, four months of which were suspended, and a fine of 1.5 million CFA francs. All four were also ordered to jointly pay two million CFA francs to the Water and Forests administration for damages. This verdict, delivered on World Environment Day, underscores the authorities' commitment to combating the illegal trade in protected species and highlights the ongoing threat of ivory trafficking to Gabon's wildlife.
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