Prison sentences and financial penalties have recently been imposed, thanks to the effective work of forestry and wildlife officers in the South Region, supported by law enforcement agencies and the technical assistance of the NGO Global Conservation.
On September 3, 2026, the High Court of Ebolowa in the South Region delivered a landmark ruling by sentencing an international ivory trafficker to two years in prison, a fine of 200,000 CFA francs, 49,000 CFA francs in court costs, two million CFA francs in damages, and a 12-month term of imprisonment in default of payment. The court also ordered the confiscation of the seized ivory tusks. In this specific case, the trafficker had been apprehended in possession of three ivory tusks by officers from the Regional Control Brigade of the South Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife.
The arrest was carried out on April 13, 2026, with the support of officers from the South Regional Division of the Judicial Police and technical assistance from the NGO Global Conservation. Global Conservation noted that the suspect was apprehended in the town of Ebolowa as he was preparing to sell these illicit products, which originated from the town of Minvoul in northern Gabon.
The seized wildlife products were sealed and entered into the judicial record. Following the judicial investigation, the accused was remanded in custody and subsequently referred to court to face charges of illegal possession, transport, and sale of trophies from fully protected species. « These judicial decisions bolster the extensive efforts made by the Cameroonian government and its partners, such as Global Conservation, to drastically reduce the international wildlife crime plaguing the TRIDOM area, » stated the wildlife law enforcement consultant for Global Conservation, Dr. Hervé Koundou Amang.
In Response To Recurring Wildlife Crimes, The State In Partnership With The NGO Global Conservation Is Sending A Deterrent Signal
This case once again highlights the prevalence of wildlife trafficking in the Southern region. On December 11, 2025, the Dja-et-Lobo Divisional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife, working with Gendarmerie units and supported by the NGO Global Conservation, arrested a military officer in Sangmelima. He was attempting to sell three elephant tusks, five elephant jaws, and pangolin scales. The officer was convicted of these offenses by the Ebolowa military court on January 6, 2026.
It is worthy of note that elephants enjoy special protection under Cameroonian legislation, specifically Law No. 2024/008 of July 24, 2024, governing the forestry and wildlife sectors. These pachyderms are vital to biodiversity, as they facilitate seed dispersal and the germination of various plant species, such as the moabi tree and many others.
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