Central Equatoria police hold suspects over illegal hunting of wildlife

July 21, 2010 (JUBA) – July 21, 2010 (JUBA) – Central Equatoria police authorities are holding four residents this week on several charges related to poaching and alleged illegal possession of four firearms and 12 rounds of ammunitions.

The suspects, who were nabbed in a special operation mounted on Thursday, according to the police, were caught in unlawful possession of several pieces of meat and leopard skin.

The wild meat was hidden in a house in the village. The Central Equatoria wildlife officer told reporters on Wednesday that the firearms were identified as military weapons as G.3 with serial number GN/RW/2269, a Sub Machine Gun (SMG) with a serial number PC 7147- 1972 with 12 rounds of ammunition and two home-made guns popularly known.

Lieutenant Colonel Buda Lakuson named the suspects as Khamis Alias Meku (21), Pembe Juma (46), both residents of Mangala and Clement Awan (32) of Terekeka County.

The suspects, who featured in the wanted list for quite some time as notorious poachers, were nabbed by law enforcers during a special operation conducted in the area.

The four people were allegedly found burying those lethal weapons in one of the houses in a village a round Jebel Ladu, north of Juba town while they were preparing to stage other criminal activities in the area.

Police were acting on a tip-off by good citizens. Early this year a gang of notorious armed robbers allegedly invaded several bars, shops and households in several areas around Juba and allegedly made away with valuable materials and cash worth of millions of Sudanese pounds.

Colonel Laksuon said the suspects will soon be arraigned into court of law once investigations of their case are over.

(ST)