by Innocent Mvundula
Police in Balaka are keeping in custody two men, Blackston Mwale, 41, and Chimwemwe Chindimba, 40, for allegedly found in possession of two ivory weighing about 20.2 Kilograms, valued at K25,755, 000.
On the material day, August 10, 2020 a well wisher from Wildlife Crime Investigations Unit in Lilongwe tipped Balaka police that the said suspects were offering for sale the ivory at AJA Lodge within Balaka Township.
Following up the tip, detectives from Balaka police station arrested the suspects and seized the said ivory in the first suspect’s motor vehicle, Swift, registration number BV 4152.
The suspects will appear before court soon to answer charges of illegal possession of listed species, and dealing in government trophy contrary to Section 86 and 91 of National Parks respectively.
Mwale comes from Mponda Village while Chindimba comes from Kandengwe Village, both under Traditional Authority Nsamala in Balaka.
Police are therefore appealing to the general public to report illegal wildlife dealers to authorities for the law to take its course.
Sergeant Precious Makuta,
Deputy PRO, Balaka Police Station.