Ivory still a lucrative business in Cabo Delgado

By: Mozanorte

The illegal trafficking of ivory remains a pressing concern in Cabo Delgado, with yet another case reported on Sunday, May 18, 2025, in the city of Pemba.

The Mozambican Police (PRM) arrested a man from Nampula province in possession of 12 pieces of ivory, weighing a total of 28 kilograms. According to police reports, each kilogram was being sold for as little as 2,000 meticais on the black market.

The arrest was made public on the morning of Monday, May 19, by the spokesperson for the PRM Provincial Command in Cabo Delgado, Eugénia Nhamussa, during a press conference held at the Fourth Police Station in Pemba.

According to Nhamussa, the operation was launched following an anonymous tip-off, which warned authorities about two individuals staying in a house in one of Pemba’s urban neighborhoods. The suspects were allegedly attempting to sell the ivory illegally. A swift intervention by the PRM led to the arrest of one of the suspects, while the second remains at large.

“The individual was caught with the 12 pieces of ivory at around 8 a.m., following a report that he had arrived in Pemba with the intent to sell the product,” said Nhamussa, adding that the seized ivory is now in police custody.

During questioning, the suspect claimed to be merely an intermediary, stating that he was unaware of the ivory’s origin.

“I'm from Nampula. I arrived on the 17th with a fellow townsman who was carrying the ivory. He asked me to help him find a buyer and said he would give me a share of the money after the sale. But once we got here, he disappeared,” the suspect told police during interrogation.

The case highlights the ongoing challenge of combating illegal ivory trade in Mozambique, particularly in regions like Cabo Delgado, which continues to serve as a hub for wildlife trafficking despite enforcement efforts.