Zambia: 384 kg of illegal ivory seized, poachers nabbed

By Francis Maingaila

LUSAKA, Zambia 

Zambia seized 384 kilograms of ivory and arrested eight people for its illegal possession Friday.

Ministry of Tourism and Arts Spokesperson Sikabilo Kalembe told journalists that the confiscated ivory was destined for Europe and Asia, where the demand is very high.

"The confiscated ivory was found in western Zambia, where poachers were trying to whisk it out of the country through Namibia,” he added.

According to Kalembe, poachers are taking advantage of the porous borders to smuggle ivory abroad, out of the southern African country.

“These days, ivory is being smuggled in and out of the country through neighboring countries.”