Wildlife security operation leads to six arrests in Western Uganda

Virunga National Park is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet. But its wildlife is severely threatened by poaching and trafficking. IUCN NL and IFAW are building capacity to stop the poaching and trafficking of protected wildlife between Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During a recent wildlife security operation six suspects were arrested.

Header photo: via Paul Villaespesa

The wildlife security operation was held from 13th – 19th December 2021 in Western Uganda along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). The operation netted six suspects and led to the confiscation of assorted wildlife products including Hippopotamus meat, buffalo meat, buffalo horn, elephant ivory, serval cat skin, hippo teeth, leopard skin and colobus monkey skin.

Ugandan surveillance teams lead wildlife security operation

The operation was led by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) supported by other security forces in Uganda including Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF), Uganda Police Force (UPF), Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and other security organs. Surveillance teams who were deployed on suspected porous routes mounted mobile and snap roadblocks at select checkpoints, surveilled suspected persons, conducted searches at premises identified through intelligence and, checked specific cargo. Together with its network of partners, IUCN NL facilitated the exchange of information between Uganda and the DRC, but also between the communities and the authorities involved. Capacity building at the judicial level in the DRC by our partner ACEDH allowed more fluid cross-border interventions, and successful operations.

Goals of the wildlife security operation

The key goals of the operation were to:

• Gather intelligence information on wildlife crimes in the target areas and to carry out the operation aimed at arresting and seizing wildlife products.
• Identify key individuals and companies involved in transboundary wildlife trafficking supply chain.
• Map out smuggling routes and to understand the modus operandi of trafficking wildlife products in the subject areas.
• Increase the visibility of the participating agencies within the community and their efforts in combating wildlife crime.
• Further co-operation, coordination and information sharing between the participating security agencies in Uganda.
• Increase public awareness of crimes relating to the illegal exploitation of wildlife while reducing the illegal supply and demand of wildlife in the region.

About the project: Combating wildlife crime in Virunga National Park