Mozambique to expel ten Tanzanian citizens involved in poaching

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Mozambique to expel ten Tanzanian citizens involved in poaching

11:37 CAT | 17 Aug 2017

File photo (For illustration purposes only)

The authorities are to expel ten Tanzanian citizens convicted of involvement in poaching in the Niassa National Reserve, the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development (MITADER) announced yesterday.

The MITADER statement says the ten citizens of Tanzanian nationality were recently sentenced to three to four years’ imprisonment and fines totalling one million meticais (about 14,000 Euros).

“The court issued an order in which it decided that, within a period of 20 days, the convicted persons should be repatriated to their country of origin,” the press release says.

MITADER says that the expulsion decision was also motivated by the need to relieve overcrowding in the jail where the convicted prisoners are being held.

The Niassa National Reserve in collaboration with the Border Guard Police and the Migration Services are making the necessary arrangement to escort the prisoners to neighbouring Tanzania.

In the trial in which the ten Tanzanians were sentenced, one Mozambican was also convicted to four years in prison, the press release reveals.

Also Read: “Big declines noted in Mozambique” – African elephant population tumbles due to poaching

Mozambican nature reserves and parks are frequently targeted by poachers who slaughter elephant and rhinoceros for tusks and horns, mainly for the Asian market.

Also Read: Tanzanian elephant poaching kingpin detained in Mozambique

Source: Lusa