Cacuaco - Two Angolan citizens were presented Wednesday, in the municipality of Cacuaco, in Luanda, by the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC), for illegal possession of more than a hundred pieces of ivory.
Those involved, aged between 31-39 years old, were detained last Tuesday, in the municipality of Kilamba Kiaxi, with 144 different pieces, including rings, bracelets, medals and hair accessories.
Speaking to the press, the spokesman for the SIC-Geral, Manuel Halaiwa explained that because they practiced the crime of illicit trafficking of stones, precious metals and against the environment, whose arrest was made when the troops were carrying out an operation in the neighborhood of Golfe, having surprised the alleged criminals inside a residence weighing four pieces of ivory to be later sold.
Following the action, he continued that the jewelry carved from ivory in the Democratic Republic of Congo is acquired from the hands of poachers in the province of Cuando Cubango.
He also explained that the four pieces found in their possession have not yet been worked on and weigh 133 kilos.
The spokesman said the ivory accessories would be destined for the Asian end market.
He added that the elephant (the animal where ivory is illegally removed) is part of Angola's red list with an endangered species and protected by the International Convention on Trade in Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The official called on citizens to report crimes that affect the environment, as well as to become actors in the protection of the preservation of the country's flora and fauna. COF/DJ/SEC/DOJ
